Admiralty buildings

The Admiralty complex in London lies between Whitehall, Horse Guards Parade, and The Mall. It consists of five interconnected buildings that together formed the headquarters of the Royal Navy until the Admiralty was absorbed into the Ministry of Defence in 1964. Today, the buildings house various government departments, including the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Ministry of Defence, and the Department for Business and Trade.

The oldest part, long known simply as The Admiralty and now called the Ripley Building, was completed in 1726 as one of Britain’s first purpose‑built office blocks. Designed by Thomas Ripley in a restrained classical style, it contained the Admiralty Board Room, state rooms, and apartments for the Lords of the Admiralty. Robert Adam’s screen was added in 1788, and in January 1806 the body of Admiral Lord Nelson lay in state there before his funeral.

To the south stands Admiralty House, built in 1788 as the residence of the First Lord of the Admiralty. Winston Churchill lived there during his terms as First Lord in 1911–15 and again in 1939–40. It remains in government use, with meeting rooms and ministerial apartments.

The Admiralty Extension, begun in the late 19th century and completed around 1905, was the largest of the buildings, constructed to provide extra office space during the naval arms race with Germany. Its red‑brick and stone Queen Anne style façade reflects the scale of Britain’s global naval administration on the eve of the First World War.

Linked to the complex is Admiralty Arch, built in 1912 as a ceremonial gateway between Trafalgar Square and The Mall. Though originally part of the Admiralty estate, it was sold in 2012 and is being redeveloped as a hotel.

During both world wars, the Admiralty complex on Whitehall served as the nerve centre of British naval operations. From these offices, the Royal Navy coordinated global strategy, convoy protection, and clandestine operations in partnership with the Special Operations Executive and Combined Operations.

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Source

• Text: TracesofWar
• Photos: Lennard Bolijn