half timbered pickering place, st.james, london

the passageway to the square runs through the early c18 premises of berry bros. and rudd, whose wine vaults are underneath. on the left the odd panelling actually provides clever storage for the protective shutters that fitted over the shop windows, hence the handles at the bottom to make it easier to lift them out. on the right above more conventional panelling you can see the timber framed construction of the back parts of the building. many of the premises around here were built like this in the late c17, retaining half timbering behind rebuilt facades.