From Tobacco to Militants

Millbank, the area behind Westminster just along from the Tate was once where the millhouse blonging to Westminster Abbey stood. Hence the name. Later the home of the American Tobacco company, possibly they, who created this panel in the magnificent front door. Now government offices. I think MI5 or 6 (always get those muddled up). Another wee gem of trivia for you, the term 'Millbank Machine' is used by politicians to mean 'spin doctor'. So there you go, see if you can weave that into your next political discussion.

Open House - Foreign Office

My visit to the Foreign and Commonweatlh Offices during Open House weekend so impressed me that I will bring you several photos in the next week or two. Refurbished in the 1970's it is really very grand.
This hall known as the Durbar Court originally had no ceiling. Granite floors and coloumns, marble statues, you could be forgiven for thinking you were in another country.
The first reception held in this magnificent court was in 1867 for the Sultan of Turkey.

The National Purse Strings

The gates to the entrance to the Treasury from King Charles St. Possibly overlooked as the main entrance, that is very grand is on Horse Guards St. Treasury has only been housed in the building behind these gates since 2002. The new offices were officially opened by Alan Greenspan, former chairman of the US Federal Reserve Board.