Senate House Histories

Senate House, Malet Street London WC1E 7HU

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Senate House Histories A Landmark Uncovered

www.london.ac.uk/SenateHouseHistories

Senate House Histories 1836 – 1853

The University of London is based in Somerset House

1928

Legislation passed to close roads crossing the Bloomsbury site giving the University a consolidated site

Designed by British architect Charles Holden, who is also credited with the design of many of London’s Underground stations, Senate House was created to house what became the world’s largest purposebuilt University.

During the Second World War, Senate House was home to the Ministry of Information and inspired George Orwell’s description of the Ministry of Truth in his novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. Besides being an architectural gem and a literary landmark, Senate House is also subject to urban mystification – allegedly Hitler planned to install the headquarters of Nazi dominion in Britain in the building on Malet Street.

The landmark Art Deco building, which is one of the few buildings in London to boast original 1930s features, was the University’s first permanent home after a century of being housed in a series of temporary premises. King George V laid the foundation stone on 26 June 1933 and the building welcomed its first occupants in 1936. Consisting of 19 floors and standing 210 feet (64m) high, Senate House was the tallest secular building in Britain on completion. It was constructed of the finest materials then available, including Portland stone, Travertine marble, English walnut and South American cypress. Acknowledged as a building of great architectural significance, it was listed as Grade II* in 1969.

Senate House is also the home to the world-famous Senate House Library which holds one of the world’s largest humanities collections and showcases a series of exhibitions to highlight its extraordinary treasures. The first of these was ‘Shakespeare: Metamorphosis’. Based on the Seven Ages of Man soliloquy from As You Like It the exhibition explored the metamorphosis of Shakespearean text and scholarship over four centuries.

Many visitors are surprised to discover that the building is generally open to the public for a host of events, conferences and private functions. It is also a popular location for TV and film productions such as Batman Begins and Richard III.

1931

Charles Holden selected as the architect of Senate House

1939

The University evacuates Senate House, to allow the Ministry of Information to move in

1948

George Orwell publishes Nineteen Eighty-Four, with Senate House as the inspiration of the Ministry of Truth

1855

The University moves to Burlington House

1927

Vice-Chancellor Lord William Beveridge persuades the Rockefeller Foundation to donate £400,000 to the University and the construction of Senate House

1932

Construction begins, undertaken by Holland, Hannen & Cubitts

1937

Lord Macmillan recorded the first meeting of the Court in the new building

1969

Senate House is listed as Grade II*

2016

SOAS, University of London moves into Senate House North Block

1899

The University moves to the Imperial Institute in Kensington

1921

The government buys 11 acres of land in Bloomsbury from the Duke of Bedford to provide a new site for the University

1933

King George V lays the first foundation stone

1936

The University of London celebrates its centenary and moves into Senate House

1984

Nineteen Eighty-Four, filmed in part at Senate House, is released

2006

Senate House undergoes a £55 million refurbishment