View of Great College Street, City of Westminster, looking east. On the left is Westminster Abbey precinct wall. The medieval stone wall has a door leading to the Abbey gardens and buildings. In this image, the wall is topped by a spiked security wire; which has since been removed. The wall is Grade I listed, number 1357235. On the right is 16-18 Great College Street. The street was laid out in the early-eighteenth century, then known only as College Street, and these three houses were part of the original development. Numbers 17-18 are a pair of terraced houses built 1720-22 of three storeys and a basement. They are Grade II* listed, number 1357039. In the late-twentieth century number 17 was owned by Lord McAlpine, a businessman and Conservative peer. He lent the house to former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher following her resignation. Number 16 was built in 1720-22 of brown brick with red brick dressings to flanks and centre. It is Grade II* listed, number 1213336. In the nineteenth century it was the home of Lewis Hertslet, an English librarian and editor of state papers. When this image was taken it was occupied by Alfred Lyttelton a British politician and sportsman, most noted for being the first man to represent England at both football and cricket. Outside number 16 is a gas street light with a column dating from the 1830s, with a later extension shaft and a Rochester-type lantern manufactured by William Sugg and Company, around 1930. It is Grade II listed, number 1491052.
