Bush House
Who is the ginger beard loving monster?
Strandman's journey round the great divide of Strand and Fleet Street (The Aldwych) lurches toward the imposing Bush House. On a wet Monday (isn't it always?) the 'Nation shall spak unto Nation' is guarded by fluorscent clad security people seems a little sinister. A Big Brother ministry perhaps or a Soviet secret department? Built from Portland stone, Bush House was in 1929 declared the "most expensive building in the world", having cost around £2 Million. It's function is intriguing and may be regarded as sinister by some. Strandman is on the case.
Bush House is primarily home to the BBC's World Service department, which occupies 4 of the 5 wings. The fifth, south-west wing, is used by HM Revenue & Customs (The Internet booze man cometh)
Designed by Harvey Corbett, Bush House was built in 1923 with further wings added between 1928 and 1935. The building was originally constructed for an Anglo-American trading organisation headed by Irving T. Bush, after whom it is named (no relation to George).
The building's opening ceremony was performed by Lord Balfour on July 4, 1925 - America's Independence Day. It included the unveiling of two statues at the entrance made by American artist Malvina Hoffman. The statues symbolise Anglo-American friendship and the building bears the inscription ‘Dedicated to the friendship of English-speaking peoples’.
The BB's foreign language broadcasting service began in 1938 from Broadcasting House in Portland Place. After this building was bombed during the Second World War, the service was re-located to Bush House in 1941. This building in turn suffered bomb damage and the statue representing America lost its left arm. It was restored in 1977.
Over many years all the BBC's foreign language services gradually invaded Bush House, penetrating each wing in turn. However, the BBC has never owned Bush House. Its owners were variously the Church of Wales, the Post Office and now a Japanese-owned organisation, but for millions of overseas listeners it remains the building which most represents the BBC.
The BBC's lease with Kato Kagaku (the Japanese company that owns the building) expires in 2010. The BBC plans to move World Service to Broadcasting House following its ongoing expansion and renovation programme, known as the W1 Project.
In October 2005 the BBC announced that a new Arabic language television service would begin broadcasting from Bush House in 2007.
- While Strand was being excavated in 1930 to build the eastern wing, a marble head was discovered. Carved from Carrara marble, it depicted a Roman man with a rather grim expression. Despite some slight damage, the head now sits in the Centre Block stairwell.
- There was once a small 'acoustically perfect' theatre in Bush House. It could hold 100 people.
- In June 1944 a bomb landed in Aldwych outside Bush House. Three staff were severely injured, another 40 sustained minor injuries, and one of the statues had its arm destroyed. The arm was replaced 30 years later by an American businessman who saw it while he was visiting his daughter in London. He happened to work for the Indiana Limestone Company, and persuaded his employers to send a replacement, and a stonemason to attach it.
- There is a small reminder of the original plans for Bush House; a small arcade that has eight shops in it is on the ground floor. The entrance is on Strand, and is open to the us, the great British (and touristic)public.
Run along.
SM
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Hindi Blogger / Website (19.5.08 23:05) Very interesting information about a great building. Thanks! |
