Admiralty Arch

This article is about the building in London. For the building in Anglesey, see Admiralty Arch, Holyhead.

Admiralty Arch
Admiralty Arch seen from The Mall, June 2009
Admiralty Arch is located in Central London
Admiralty Arch
Location of Admiralty Arch in central London
General information
StatusGrade I listed
TypeTriumphal arch, government building
Architectural styleNeoclassical
AddressThe Mall
Town or cityLondon, SW1
CountryUnited Kingdom
Coordinates51°30′24″N 0°07′43″W / 51.50678°N 0.12869°W / 51.50678; -0.12869
Current tenantsMotcomb Estates
Completed1912; 112 years ago (1912)
ClientEdward VII
OwnerHM Government
Design and construction
Architect(s)Aston Webb
Main contractorJohn Mowlem & Co

Admiralty Arch is a landmark building in London providing road and pedestrian access between The Mall, which extends to the southwest, and Trafalgar Square to the northeast. Admiralty Arch, commissioned by King Edward VII in memory of his mother, Queen Victoria, and designed by Aston Webb, is now a Grade I listed building. In the past, it served as residence of the First Sea Lord and was used by the Admiralty. Until 2011, the building housed government offices. In 2012, the government sold the building on a 125-year lease for £60m for a proposed redevelopment into a Waldorf Astoria luxury hotel and four apartments.

History

The arch was designed by Aston Webb, who also designed the Victoria Memorial and the new façade of Buckingham Palace at the other end of the Mall.[1]: 1  Admiralty Arch was constructed by John Mowlem & Co and completed in 1912.[2] It adjoins the Old Admiralty Building, hence the name. The building was commissioned by King Edward VII in memory of his mother Queen Victoria, although he did not live to see its completion in 1912. Admiralty Arch served as the official residence of the First Sea Lord, including Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma. It also housed various government offices, initially for the Admiralty.[1]: 1 

The structure, which combines the features of a triumphal arch with those of a government office building, is asymmetrical. As viewed from the Mall, the right wing of the building has one floor more than the left one: below the cornice there are three on the right, but just two on the left.[1]: 11 

Latin inscription: ANNO DECIMO EDWARDI SEPTIMI REGIS / VICTORIÆ REGINÆ CIVES GRATISSIMI MDCCCCX (In the tenth year of King Edward VII / to Queen Victoria (from) most grateful citizens, 1910).

A Latin inscription along the top reads:

 : ANNO : DECIMO : EDWARDI : SEPTIMI : REGIS :
 : VICTORIÆ : REGINÆ : CIVES : GRATISSIMI : MDCCCCX :
(In the tenth year of King Edward VII, to Queen Victoria, from most grateful citizens, 1910)
Thomas Brock's figure of Navigation

The sculptural figures of Navigation (left) and Gunnery (right) at the end of the two wings were designed by the English sculptor Thomas Brock.

Beneath the building is a warren of tunnels and chambers, including vaults which used to house the government archives.[1]: 11  In 2000, the Cabinet Office moved into offices in the building, while maintaining its headquarters on Whitehall. It was also home to the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit and the Social Exclusion Task Force.[3] In 2011, as part of the United Kingdom government austerity programme, the building became vacant and was put up for sale[4] for a reported £75 million. In October 2012, the winning bidder was reported to be the Spanish real estate developer Rafael Serrano, who planned to turn the property into a luxury hotel. The property was sold as a 125-year lease.[5][6] In August 2013, Westminster City Council granted full planning permission for the restoration and conversion of Admiralty Arch into a 100-room hotel, residences and private members' club.[7]

The architects Blair Associates were retained by property developer Prime Investors Capital (run by Rafael Serrano)[8] to convert the building into a hotel, restaurant and four apartments. The residences went on sale in July 2016.[1]: 11 

In 2022, Motcomb Estates took over development of Admiralty Arch.[9] The building is currently being converted into a luxury hotel under the Waldorf Astoria brand, and is scheduled to open in 2025.[10]

There is reputedly an underground passage connecting Admiralty Arch to 10 Downing Street.[1]

Ceremonial use

As the ceremonial entrance from Trafalgar Square to The Mall, itself the ceremonial road leading up to Buckingham Palace, Admiralty Arch plays an important role on ceremonial occasions. Processions at royal weddings, funerals, coronations and other public processions such as the 2012 processions at the end of the Olympic and Paralympic Games all passed under its arches.[11] The central archway is reserved for use by royalty.[1]: 1 

Nose

The nose
Main article: London Noses

On the inside wall of the northernmost arch is a small protrusion the size and shape of a human nose. It was placed there by the artist Rick Buckley in 1997 as part of a campaign against the "Big Brother" society. The nose is at a height of about seven feet, and sits at waist-height for anyone riding through the arch on a horse.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Heathcote, Edward (25 July 2016). "Why London's Admiralty Arch is more than just a grand entrance". Financial Times. London. pp. 1, 11. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022.
  2. ^ Mowlem 1822 – 1972, p. 4
  3. ^ Note by the Minister for the Cabinet Office on the Cabinet Office Accommodation Project, January 1999
  4. ^ Ruddick, Graham (3 November 2011). "London's Admiralty Arch could become a hotel under Government plans". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  5. ^ Batty, David (24 October 2012). "London landmark Admiralty Arch sold to become luxury hotel". The Guardian. London.
  6. ^ Hammond, Ed; Jim Pickard; Sally Gainsbury (24 October 2012). "Admiralty Arch sold to Spanish investor". Financial Times. London. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Admiralty Arch proposal gets go ahead" (Press release). Cabinet Office. 20 August 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  8. ^ "Who We Are". Admiralty Arch. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  9. ^ Harmer, Janet (28 June 2022). "Billionaire Reuben brothers acquire hotel development at Admiralty Arch". The Caterer.
  10. ^ Gill, Rob (5 December 2022). "Waldorf Astoria set to open Admiralty Arch hotel in 2025". BTN Europe.
  11. ^ Peck, Tom (25 October 2012). "Admiralty Arch to become London's next landmark hotel after sale to Spanish investor". The Independent. London.
  12. ^ Lydall, Ross (13 October 2011). "That's blown it! Man who put noses on London landmarks is unmasked". Evening Standard. London.