Plaque: Jane and John Loudon
Here lived John and Jane Loudon, 1783 - 1843, and 1807 - 1858. Their horticultural work gave new beauty to London squares.
London County Council
Site: Jane and John Loudon (1 memorial)
W2, Porchester Terrace, 3-5
Built 1825 by John Claudius Loudon this building may not be the first semi-detached house, as discussed in the Guardian, but it is an early example and one that propagated the style. What did not get carried forward was Loudon's determination to disguise the division of the building into two residences. His design goes to great lengths to trick the viewer into thinking each home double its actual size.
You won't be surprised to learn that, in 2015 when the Guardian reported, the building was in fact in one ownership, and it was not big enough; that owner was applying to extend.
