Thames House, Neoclassical office building in City of Westminster, United Kingdom
Description
Thames House is a neoclassical office building on the south bank of the Thames between Lambeth Bridge and Vauxhall Bridge. The facade displays two large stone sculptures by Charles Sargeant Jagger depicting St George and Britannia, and the structure rises eight storeys in pale grey Portland stone.
History
John Mowlem & Co constructed the building between 1929 and 1930 on riverside land cleared after the destructive Thames flood of 1928. The intelligence headquarters moved here in 1994, having previously been housed at several other locations across London.
Culture
The building takes its name from its riverside location along the Thames and now serves as home to Britain's domestic intelligence agency. Visitors can view the monumental portal sculptures from the street, while the interior remains closed to the public.
Practical
The building stands about a ten-minute walk south of Westminster Palace along the Thames. Security is tight and close photography is often discouraged, but the facade can be viewed clearly from the opposite bank or from Lambeth Bridge.
Did you know?
The building houses an automated miniature monorail system in its basement, originally designed to transport files through different departments. This small railway still runs today, connecting underground areas throughout the structure.
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