84 and 86 King Street, Marks & Spencer

This building was listed Grade II in 1983 with the following description:
'1866. T M Clemence and J C Phipps. Joint Architects. This was originally the "New Theatre" (Theatre Royal) whose design was chosen by competition. Although the pedimented portico has been removed and a modern store front inserted across the ground floor it is still a very elegant elevation in the classical manner. The original ground floor contained 2 shops, one on either side of the entrances. It ceased to be a theatre in the early 1930s. Ashlar, now painted, 3 bays and 3 storeys. Ground floor modern store front, with a modillion cornice. This cornice is original. The upper elevation has a Corinthian pilaster under. Unfluted pilasters, paired at the centre bay, stand on pedestals and rise through 2 storeys and support a full entablature with plain frieze and modillion cornice. Above the cornice a deep parapet with pedestals over the pilasters. First floor windows, modern glazing, have architraves and pediments supported on scrolled brackets. Triangular to the outer bays, segmental to the centre bay. The 2 outer bays of the second floor are lit by oval windows whose architraves are decorated by swags descending from masks of comedy and tragedy. The centre bay has a framed, recessed, horizontal panel.' LISTED GRADE 2