Thames House: Difference between revisions

The building was constructed in 1929–30 by [[Mowlem|John Mowlem & Co]] on riverside land cleared after the disastrous [[1928 Thames flood]] severely damaged run-down residential properties. It was built to designs by Sir [[Frank Baines]], of the Government's [[Office of Works]]. It is of design uniform with but not identical to [[Imperial Chemical House]] which is opposite it on the north side of [[Horseferry Road]]; while Imperial Chemical House was exclusively for ICI, Thames House originally had various uses, including the London headquarters of International Nickel Ltd. Baines's design owes much to the 'Imperial Neoclassical' tradition of [[Edwin Lutyens|Sir Edwin Lutyens]] and deliberately ties in with the Imperial design of Lambeth Bridge when it was redesigned from 1929. High up on the frontage are statues of [[St George]] and [[Britannia]] sculpted by [[Charles Sargeant Jagger]]. It was owned by Thames House Estates until it was sold to the British Government in 1994. Thames House Estates was jointly owned by ICI and [[Prudential plc|Prudential]] for many years and subsequently was wholly owned by ICI.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2000/02/9900236.pdf|page=24|title=Thames House and Vauxhall Cross|publisher=National Audit Office|date=18 February 2000|accessdate=21 November 2018}}</ref>