Lancaster House

The Lancaster House is a palatial mansion in London's St. James's. It is located, overlooking Green Park, on the isolated by the Stable Yard Road from St James 's Palace neighboring property on the boulevard The Mall. Large parts of the estate, which is now managed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, once belonged to the palace complex.

History

The city residence was in 1825 for Frederick Augustus, Duke of York and Albany, second son of George III. and brother of George IV, built in classical style. After the owner died in 1827, reached the semi-finished York House in the possession of the noble family Stafford - Sutherland. Completed in 1843, Stafford House became one of the centers of social life in London. Up to a thousand guests reveled in the splendor of large dinner parties, balls and banquets.

The name Lancaster House goes to William Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme, back, who had purchased the property in 1912 and renamed it in honor of the county of his birth. In 1913 he donated the building to the state. Until the Second World War in the Museum of London was housed; Today it is used for state receptions and conferences. In 1979 the Lancaster House Agreement was signed, which created the international legal basis of the independence of Zimbabwe.

Interior

The mainly created by Charles Barry and Benjamin Dean Wyatt interior of Lancaster House is still gorgeous, with vibrant colors in a white- gold setting. Among the architectural highlights include the central stair hall, which extends up to the roof of the building. The conclusion is a vaulted, supported by caryatids ceiling with a huge lantern. Very good, also designed by Wyatt Grand Staircase, as well as over the whole length of the house extending gallery on the first floor.

Trivia

Stair hall and premises of Lancaster House served as a backdrop in the American- British-French comedy film Importance of Being Earnest ( The Importance of being Earnest ) of 2002 and for the final scene in The King's Speech.