Construction of the British Museum's new building begins (1823–1828)

Construction of the British Museum's new building began in 1823 in London, following a parliamentary grant and the decision to rebuild. Robert Smirke, an official architect, designed the main block and facade, starting with the King's Library wing. The project was phased due to limited annual funding and the need to keep the museum open, completing over 25 years later.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. The British Museum, located in Bloomsbury, London, required expansion due to growing collections. A buildings committee was established in 1802, and the donation of King George III's library in 1822 highlighted the need for new space. The dilapidated Old Montagu House was demolished to make way for the new construction, which started in 1823.

Architectural Design. Sir Robert Smirke, an official architect within the Office of Works, was invited to redesign the museum in 1821. His core design, dating from 1823, stipulated a building surrounding a large central courtyard with a grand south front. The project utilized concrete foundations and was subject to changes during its 25-year completion period.

Construction Phases. Due to limited funds granted annually by parliament, the work was divided into phases. The first part constructed was the King's Library, forming the east wing, built between 1823 and 1828. This phase followed the demolition of the Old Montagu House and the donation of the King's Library by George IV in 1823.

People involved

Sources

Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.