A history of the Old War Office Building

Other Buildings - Northumberland House

The Hotel Victoria which was completed under new ownership, although slightly smaller than planned as some ground (the site of the current Nigeria House) had to be sold because of rising costs, opened in 1887.  Its name reflected the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.  With 500 bedrooms it was one of only five hotels of comparable size then in London and only one other was significantly larger.

The layout and design of the hotel reflected the prevailing luxurious style of the day, with ornate dining rooms and other public areas.  The Hotel Victoria was one of the first to be lit throughout by electricity, powered from its own dynamos.  Full bathrooms however were not an automatic inclusion, the Hotel Victoria having only four and there was no running water in the bedrooms, although a shallow, movable bath was located under each bed which could be filled by servants with a few inches of water to provide the guests with a basic washing facility.

In 1893 Frederick Gordon, the owner of nearby Hotel Metropole, bought the Hotel Victoria, thereby gaining possession of all the hotels in the avenue and so eliminating all close competition. The Hotel like others built up a valuable trade with contracts for annual dinners of learned societies and regimental associations as well as providing showcase space to retailers anxious to advertise their wares.

A major renovation of the building planned in 1911 was delayed by the First World War during which, in common with others in the area, it was used primarily by government staffs although its ‘Grill Room’ was leased by Cox’s Bank.

Stained glass window originally in th hotel's banqueting suite

At the end of the war the renovation re-started and the Billiard Room was converted into a banqueting suite with its own separate entrance at the southern end of the building and was given the title the Edward VII Rooms.  Further modernisation took place in the inter-war years, including the addition of hand-basins in every bedroom and more full bathrooms, while modern decoration was also added to some public areas.

With the outbreak of the Second World War and the need for additional accommodation for government and service staffs, the hotel closed in 1940 when it was requisitioned by the War Office. It was purchased by the Government in 1951 and has remained in government use, known first as Victoria Buildings then as Northumberland House.  The former Banqueting Room is now a theatre used by amateur dramatic societies.

Having been transferred to MOD’s custody in 1996, it has, among other things, housed the nursery for children of MOD staff in London.  It is now playing its part as a ‘decant’ building for Main Building staff during the major refurbishment of the Main Building.

 Metropole Building..

Last Updated: 3 Mar 04