Kensington Italianate
Although the Gothic Revival was making rapid headway throughout the early years of Queen Victoria’s reign it did not attain its greatest popularity until the 1860s and 1870s, and while an ever-increasing number of churches and town-halls were erected in that style, domestic architecture remained for a long time unaffected. This when the great expansion of London during the 1840s and 1850s led to the development of Belgravia, Paddington, and Kensington, the terraces and squares which were erected in these districts were built in a style which, despite a certain monotony and, according to modern standards, considerable inconvenience, did nevertheless represent the last expiring flicker of the great classic tradition of English architecture. Although the detail was usually inferior to that of the best Regency work and the remarkable inventiveness of that style was packing, Kensington Italianate at its best, e.g. Belgrave Square, did achieve dignity and even a certain magnificence… (Lancaster, 1938)