Norfolk House

Not to be confused withNorfolk House (Dedham, Massachusetts).

Norfolk House in 1932

Norfolk House is on the far right on this mid-18th-century engraving.

The location ofNorfolk Houseis shown on this 1799 map.

The office block known as "Norfolk House" which replaced the ducal townhouse in 1938, and which is due for demolition and redevelopment after 2019

Norfolk Housewas the London residence of the Dukes of Norfolk, and as such more than one building has been given this name. The first was oppositeLambeth Palace,set in acres of garden and orchards on a site occupying what is now the Novotel London Waterloo on Lambeth Road (the remains of the Howard family vault and chapel still being visible in the former parish church ofSt Mary-at-Lambeth).

The laterNorfolk Houseat 31St James's Square,Westminster,was built between 1748 and 1752 as the LondontownhouseofEdward Howard, 9th Duke of Norfolk(1686–1777), to the design ofMatthew Brettingham(1699–1769), "the Elder". This building was demolished in 1938.The duke'scountry houseand main seat wasWorksop ManorinNottinghamshire.Norfolk House was built on a site formerly occupied by two houses, namely St Albans House, the residence of theEarl of St Albans(purchased byThomas Howard, 8th Duke of Norfolkin 1722), and the other the residence ofJohn Belasyse, 1st Baron Belasyse(1614–1689) (purchased by the 9th Duke of Norfolk in 1748). Both these houses were demolished in 1748 by the 9th Duke of Norfolk in preparation for his new house.

St Albans House

St Albans House was a royal residence for a short time, after the 9th Duke of Norfolk offered it toFrederick, Prince of Wales,following his marriage in 1736 toPrincess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha.The couple lived there 1737–1741, and their son KingGeorge IIIwas born in the house. The family moved toLeicester Housein 1742, which remained the prince's home until his death nine years later, and that of his widow until her death in 1772.

Norfolk House

Norfolk House remained in the ownership of theDukes of Norfolkuntil 1938 when it was pulled down and replaced by an office building. During theSecond World Warthis building served as offices for senior officers from a variety of Allied armed forces, including the Canadian 1st Army and theSupreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forceunder GeneralDwight D. Eisenhower.Two plaques on the exterior of the building commemorate the role of the building in the War. The 1930s building was fully refitted in the years before 2019. The office space became obsolete for modern requirements and in 2019 plans were submitted to demolish it and rebuild at a cost of £60 million in line with modern requirements.

Music Room

Parts of the interior of the eighteenth-century house survive, having been removed before demolition, including the Music Room, designed byGiovanni Battista Borrafor the ninth Duke's wifeMary Blount,now displayed in theVictoria and Albert Museum,restored and redecorated to its original scheme of brilliant white paintwork with gilt, carved woodwork.

Gallery

• 
  The Music Room from Norfolk House, St James's Square, London, 1748–1756 V&A Museum no. W.70:1-1938
• 
  Plaque says: Norfolk House in this building 24 June 1942 – 8 November 1942 General of the army Dwight D Eisenhower Supreme Allied Commander formed the first Allied Force Headquarters and in conjunction with the commanders of the fighting services of the Allied Nations and the Authorities in Washington and London planned and launched Operation "Torch" for the liberation of North Africa and later 16 January 1944 – 6 June 1944 as Supreme Allied Commander Allied Expeditionary Force in conjunction with the commanders of the fighting services of the Allied Nations and the authorities in Washington and London he planned and launched Operation "Overlord" for the liberation of North West Europe.
• 
  Plaque says: The United States of America recognizes the selfless service and manifold contributions of General Dwight David Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander, 1944–1945. At this site, General Eisenhower, on behalf of Freedom loving peoples throughout the World, directed the Allied Expeditionary Forces against Fortress Europe, 6 June 1944. This Plaque was dedicated by a United States Department of Defense delegation and the Eisenhower family on 4 June 1990 during the Centennial year of his birth and the 46th Anniversary of Operation Overlord.

See also

• List of demolished buildings and structures in London

External links

• Detailed history and description- from theSurvey of London.
• Photograph of 1932- from theSurvey of London.
• "Norfolk House Music Room".Furniture.Victoria and Albert Museum.Retrieved1 July2008.