Plaque

Bush House

Inscription

BBC - Bush House
International radio, television and online content made here, 1941 - 2012.
BBC Heritage Trail

Site: Bush House (2 memorials)

WC2, Aldwych, Bush House

In our photo the blue plaque is immediately to the left of the left-most traffic lights.

The Bush House complex consists of this central building and a number of wings (at least 5). Built in the 1920s by American businessman, Irving T. Bush, it was designed in 1919 by Harvey W. Corbett, and conceived as a centre for international trade but also for sports, leisure, entertainment and cultural events. The whole complex was not completed until 1935.

The building was opened by Lord Balfour (ex-Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary) on 4 July 1925, American Independence Day. It was the home of BBC World Service from 1940 - 2012, when they moved to New Broadcasting House in Portland Place. Kings College London moved into Bush House in 2016.

To find out more about the spectacular statuary see Ornamental Passions where you will also find some great photos. The BBC page about this building is a good source, as is King's College.

Eagle Hut was on this site before Bush House. And before that? London's great guide, Peter Berthoud, has a page about this area before it was developed: early photos and a map showing the old higgledy-piggledy streets.

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Bush House

Subjects commemorated i

British Broadcasting Corporation

Also known as the BBC or more affectionately, the Beeb.  Founded as the Briti...

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This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Bush House

Created by i

British Broadcasting Corporation

Also known as the BBC or more affectionately, the Beeb.  Founded as the Briti...

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Bush House

Also at this site i

Bush House - US Presidents, possibly

Bush House - US Presidents, possibly

Our photos was taken during a 2018 exhibition 'The Classical Now' during whic...

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Nearby Memorials

Sir Joshua Reynolds - Great Newport Street - lost

Sir Joshua Reynolds - Great Newport Street - lost

WC2, Great Newport Street, 5, The Photographers Gallery

April 2016: Our colleague Alan Patient reports that this plaque is now lost, or, at the very least hidden, behind the large "White Space...

1 subject commemorated
Sir Charles Eastlake

Sir Charles Eastlake

W1, Fitzroy Square, 9

Greater London Council Sir Charles Eastlake, 1793 - 1865, painter and first director of the National Gallery, lived here.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Herman Wallace

Herman Wallace

SW7, Kensington Gore, Royal Geographic Society

This tile is about 4" square. It has been guerrilla-stuck to the wall just above the white 1911 City of Westminster mile marker, which c...

1 subject commemorated
R. H. Tawney

R. H. Tawney

WC1, Mecklenburgh Square, 21

Greater London Council R.H. Tawney, 1880 - 1962, historian, teacher and political writer, lived here.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Handel

Handel

W1, Brook Street, 25

In our photo of the street showing two blue plaques, the Handel building is the one on the right. The one on the left is Hendrix.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator