The Royal Architectural Museum was an English museum, established in London in 1851 to educate architects and workers on architectural art. It closed during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, and most of its collections are now held in the

Victoria and Albert Museum The Victoria and Albert Museum (abbreviated V&A) in London is the world's largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.8 million objects. It was founded in 1852 and named after Queen ...

History

The museum, initially known as the Architectural Museum, was founded by architects

George Gilbert Scott Sir George Gilbert Scott (13 July 1811 – 27 March 1878), largely known as Sir Gilbert Scott, was a prolific English Gothic Revival architect, chiefly associated with the design, building and renovation of churches and cathedrals, although he ...

, Sir

Charles Barry Sir Charles Barry (23 May 1795 – 12 May 1860) was an English architect best known for his role in the rebuilding of the Palace of Westminster (also known as the Houses of Parliament) in London during the mid-19th century, but also responsi ...

and

George Godwin George Godwin (28 January 1813 – 27 January 1888) was an influential British architect, journalist, and editor of ''Building (magazine), The Builder'' magazine. Life He was one of nine children of the architect George Godwin senior (1780� ...

Prince Albert Prince Albert most commonly refers to: *Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1819–1861), consort of Queen Victoria *Albert II, Prince of Monaco (born 1958), present head of state of Monaco Prince Albert may also refer to: Royalty * Alb ...

was a patron, Thomas Philip de Grey, 2nd Earl de Grey, was its first president and Alexander Beresford-Hope was a trustee. The museum was also backed by

John Ruskin John Ruskin (8 February 1819 20 January 1900) was an English polymath a writer, lecturer, art historian, art critic, draughtsman and philanthropist of the Victorian era. He wrote on subjects as varied as art, architecture, Critique of politic ...

. Its initial collections included plaster casts of European gothic architectural ornamentations, decorative ironwork, tiles, woodcarving, sculptural stonework and stained glass, plus architectural models, plans and drawings. From 1852 to 1854, the museum was housed in a loft in

Canon Row Canon Row is a historic street in the City of Westminster in London. It is best known as the location of Canon Row Police Station. History In 1878 Canon Row extended from the back of Richmond Terrace to Bridge Street, Westminster, and about mid ...

Westminster Westminster is the main settlement of the City of Westminster in Central London, Central London, England. It extends from the River Thames to Oxford Street and has many famous landmarks, including the Palace of Westminster, Buckingham Palace, ...

, where it also incorporated a School for Art-workmen. In 1857, it moved to South Kensington (where it occupied the upper floor of one of the so-called 'Brompton Boilers' at the modern day V&A Museum); in 1869 it moved again, to new purpose-built premises (designed by

Ewan Christian Ewan Christian (1814–1895) was a British architect. He is most frequently noted for the restorations of Southwell Minster and Carlisle Cathedral, and the design of the National Portrait Gallery (London), National Portrait Gallery. He was Arch ...

and Joseph Clarke) at 18–20, Bowling Street, Westminster; the street, located behind the Dean's Yard at

Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an Anglican church in the City of Westminster, London, England. Since 1066, it has been the location of the coronations of 40 English and British m ...

, was renamed Tufton Street in 1870. The basic structural frame of the new building – six iron supports spanning fifty feet each – came from the 1862 International Exhibition building, donated by the building firm Lucas Brothers. Upon its reopening its royal patronage was renewed by

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in January 1901. Her reign of 63 year ...

and it became the Royal Architectural Museum. A school of architectural art was established at the museum. This was initially jointly managed by the museum, the

Architectural Association The Architectural Association School of Architecture in London, commonly referred to as the AA, is the oldest private school of architecture in the UK. The AA hosts exhibitions, lectures, symposia and publications. History The Architectura ...

and the

Royal Institute of British Architects The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally, founded for the advancement of architecture under its royal charter granted in 1837, three suppl ...

, but by 1873 the school was solely managed by the museum, and it later changed its name to become the

Westminster School of Art The Westminster School of Art was an art school in Westminster, London. History The Westminster School of Art was located at 18 Tufton Street, Deans Yard, Westminster, and was part of the old Royal Architectural Museum. H. M. Bateman descri ...

(later, in 1904, merging with the Westminster Technical Institute – today part of

Westminster Kingsway College Westminster Kingsway College is a large college for further education in central London with centres in Kings Cross, London, King's Cross in London Borough of Camden, Camden, together with Victoria, London, Victoria and Soho, London, Soho centres ...

). In 1904, the museum was wound up, with the building and contents gifted to the AA who maintained its administrative, legal and curatorial functions. For some years, the AA School was co-located in the Westminster premises, but by 1915 these were regarded as too small. The building was sold to the National Lending Library for the Blind and was demolished and consequently rebuilt in 1935. Most of the museum's collections ended up in the Victoria and Albert Museum.

References

{{Authority control 1851 establishments in England 1851 in art