Imperial War Museum

The Imperial War Museum, located on Lambeth Road in Southwark, was originally the site of the Bethlem Royal Hospital. It was constructed between 1812 and 1814, with extensions added in 1835 and between 1844 and 1846. The building was designed by James Lewis, who was the surveyor for the Bridewell and Bethlehem Hospitals. Further enlargements and alterations were made by Sydney Smirke and P Hardwick during the 1835 and 1844-1846 periods. The building was converted into a museum around 1936 and underwent restoration after being damaged in World War II.

The museum is made of brick with stone details and features a hipped slate roof. The central block consists of three storeys and a basement, with 17 bays topped by an octagonal dome on a drum, which has a copper roof and originally housed a chapel. This dome replaced the original cupola in the 1840s and was rebuilt after a fire in the 1970s. The side wings built between 1844 and 1846 have since been demolished.

The exterior showcases a front with a projecting section of 11 bays, topped by a stone balustraded parapet. There is a stone hexastyle Ionic portico over the central five bays, also from the 1840s, which features a pediment with a coat of arms and an inscription on the frieze that reads: "Hen. VIII. Rege. Fvndatvm. Civivm. Largitas. Perfecit." The wider central entrance is flanked by panelled pilasters that support an entablature with a cornice, while smaller entrances are located on either side. The ground-floor windows have moulded stone architraves and aprons, and the first-floor windows are similar but include an entablature and cornice, along with a sill band. The second floor features smaller windows with moulded stone architraves. The long, plain wings on the returns have round-headed windows.

The interior of the museum has been significantly altered over time. Historically, the hospital was founded in 1246 and became associated with the treatment of mental conditions and disorders from 1400. It moved from Moorfields to Southwark in 1812 and then to Beckenham in 1926. The grounds surrounding the museum are now part of the Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park.