History in Structure

The British Museum

A Grade I Listed Building in Bloomsbury, London

More Photos »
Approximate Location Map
Large Map »

Coordinates

Latitude: 51.5195 / 51°31'10"N

Longitude: -0.1269 / 0°7'36"W

OS Eastings: 530054

OS Northings: 181722

OS Grid: TQ300817

Mapcode National: GBR H9.NH

Mapcode Global: VHGQZ.R28J

Plus Code: 9C3XGV9F+Q6

Entry Name: The British Museum

Listing Date: 24 October 1951

Grade: I

Source: Historic England

Source ID: 1130404

English Heritage Legacy ID: 477883

Also known as: British Museum building

ID on this website: 101130404

Location: Bloomsbury, Camden, London, WC1E

County: London

District: Camden

Electoral Ward/Division: Bloomsbury

Parish: Non Civil Parish

Built-Up Area: Camden

Traditional County: Middlesex

Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Greater London

Church of England Parish: Bloomsbury Way St George

Church of England Diocese: London

Tagged with: Museum building Greek Revival architecture Georgian architecture

Find accommodation in
Holborn

Description



CAMDEN

TQ3081NW GREAT RUSSELL STREET
798-1/100/697 (North side)
24/10/51 The British Museum

GV I

Museum. 1823-47. By Sir Robert Smirke with later additions.
Portland stone. Planned as a big quadrangle with open
courtyard extending north from Montague House (the original
museum, demolished c1840).
2 main storeys in Greek Revival style. Built in stages.
East Wing 1823-26: built to house George IV's library and
Angerstein pictures (later basis of National Gallery). An
early use of iron beams clad in concrete by engineer John
Rastrick. Fine Grecian detail to interior with scagliola
walls.
West Wing 1831-4: built to house antiquities. Redecorated to
Smirke's original colour scheme 1980.
North Wing 1833-8: built to house antiquities.
South Range 1842-7: built as the principal facade following
the demolition of Montague House. 7-bay centre linked to
projecting wings. Ionic octastyle portico with sculptured
pediment projecting from a massive colonnade running around
the wings. Ionic order from the temple of Athene Polias,
Priene. Pediment sculpture depicts the "Progress of
Civilisation" by Westmacott. Fine interior with grand central
staircase.
Round Reading Room 1852-7: by Sydney Smirke. Erected to fill
the open quadrangle, with domed cast-iron roof.
HISTORICAL NOTE: the museum expanded north during the C19, the
last main addition being the King Edward VII Gallery (qv),
1914, facing Montague Place. Some of the galleries were
damaged during World War II and have been remodelled for
display purposes.


Listing NGR: TQ3005981712

External Links

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

Other nearby listed buildings

BritishListedBuildings.co.uk is an independent online resource and is not associated with any government department. All government data published here is used under licence. Please do not contact BritishListedBuildings.co.uk for any queries related to any individual listed building, planning permission related to listed buildings or the listing process itself.

British Listed Buildings is a Good Stuff website.