Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1385640
- Date first listed:
- 27-Sept-1972
- List Entry Name:
- Imperial War Museum
- Statutory Address:
- Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2001-02-18
- Reference:
- IOE01/03251/04
- Rights:
- © Mr David March. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1385640
- Date first listed:
- 27-Sept-1972
- List Entry Name:
- Imperial War Museum
- Statutory Address 1:
- Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Greater London Authority
- District:
- Southwark (London Borough)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- TQ 31411 79148
Details
This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 3 July 2025 to amend the language in the description and to reformat the text to current standards
TQ3179
636-1/4/462
SOUTHWARK
LAMBETH ROAD (South side)
Imperial War Museum
27/09/72
GV
II
Formerly a site of the Bethlem Royal Hospital, now museum. 1812-1814, extended 1835, 1844-1846. By James Lewis, surveyor to the Bridewell and Bethlehem Hospitals. Enlargements and alterations by Sydney Smirke and P Hardwick, 1835 and 1844-1846; converted into museum c1936. Damaged and restored after World War II.
MATERIALS: brick with stone details and hipped slate roof.
PLAN: central block of three storeys and basement, 17 bays surmounted by octagonal dome on drum with copper roof which contained chapel and replaced original cupola in 1840s; dome rebuilt after fire in 1970s. Side wings of 1844-1846 now demolished.
EXTERIOR: front has projecting section of 11 bays surmounted by stone balustraded parapet; stone hexastyle Ionic portico to central five bays (also of 1840s) with pediment containing coat of arms and inscription on frieze: "Hen. VIII. Rege. Fvndatvm. Civivm. Largitas. Perfecit". Wider central entrance with panelled pilasters supporting entablature with cornice, smaller flanking entrances. Ground-floor windows with moulded stone architraves and aprons. First-floor windows similar but with entablature and cornice; first-floor sill band. Second-floor small windows with moulded stone architraves. Long, plain wings to returns with round-headed windows.
INTERIOR: much altered.
HISTORICAL NOTE: hospital founded in 1246 and associated with the treatment of mental conditions and disorders from 1400. Moved from Moorfields to Southwark in 1812 and to Beckenham in 1926. The surrounding grounds are now the Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park.
Listing NGR: TQ3141179148
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 471044
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 10-Jun-2026 at 18:22:03.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.