The Royal Institution

TQ 2880 NE, CITY OF WESTMINSTER ALBEMARLE STREET W1 2980 NW 69/144 ; 70/21 24.2.58 No 21 (The Royal Institution)

GV I

Originally a terraced town house acquired for the Royal Institution in 1799. Built in 1756, brick, 3 storeys, 12 bays and then only one bay deep. Altered for Institution by Thomas Webster in 1799 and then in 1838 given a commensurately grand front by Lewis Vulliamy - regularised as 13 bays and rendered with a screen of giant engaged fluted Corinthian columns, on low pedestals, through the 3 storeys. Plain central square headed doorway with cornice on consoles. Revealed glazing bar sash windows, flat arches. Deep crowning entablature with projecting cornice. Stone balustraded area. The interior altered for the Institution by Webster with George Saunders as consultant: the staircase up to 1st floor retained from mid-C18 house, stone with wrought iron balustrade returned to galleried landing (plasterwork to walls and ceiling of 1928); semicircular shaped lecture theatre of c. 1800 with gallery; 'Conversation Room' (i.e. Scientific Gentleman's Library); Faraday's magnetic laboratory; statuary marble chimneypiece etc. Otherwise numerous alterations and embellishments in 1928-30 by Rome Guthrie. Association with Humphrey Davy and Michael Faraday etc.

Listing NGR: TQ2900480621