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.

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

Alfred. Lord Tennyson - SW1

Alfred. Lord Tennyson - SW1

SW1, Upper Belgrave Street, 9

Alfred, Lord Tennyson, 1809 - 1892, poet, lived here in 1880 and 1881. English Heritage

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Balham Station bombing - 2

Balham Station bombing - 2

SW12, Balham High Road, Balham Underground Station

Plaque 1 incorrectly states that there were 64 people killed in this incident. The Wandsworth Guardian carries the story of how it was di...

4 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema

Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema

NW8, Grove End Road, 4

Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema O.M. 1836 - 1912, painter, lived here, 1886 - 1912. Greater London Council

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Sir Alfred Munnings - Glebe Place

Sir Alfred Munnings - Glebe Place

SW3, Glebe Place, 65

A local resident said that this plaque (and the one next door, to William McMillan) is spurious and was erected by developers purely to b...

1 subject commemorated
Lenin - Percy Circus - lost

Lenin - Percy Circus - lost

WC1, Percy Circus, 16

This photo, the only close-up image we can find of this lost plaque, is from Sputnik Mediabank where it is captioned "Memorial plate on d...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator