Norfolk House

Norfolk House was the London townhouse of the Dukes of Norfolk, built between 1748 and 1752 for Edward Howard, the 9th Duke. It stood at 31 St James’s Square in the City of Westminster, replacing two earlier houses on the same site. The architect was Matthew Brettingham the Elder, who created a grand residence for the duke’s wife Mary Blount. The house served as the family’s London base until 1938, when it was demolished. Its replacement became a key wartime headquarters for Allied forces during the Second World War. The house is remembered for its Music Room, designed by Giovanni Battista Borra. This room featured brilliant white walls with gilt and carved woodwork, reflecting the tastes of the 18th century. Before the house was demolished, the Music Room was carefully removed and later restored. It now stands in the Victoria and Albert Museum, displayed as it would have appeared in the duke’s time. The room’s survival allows visitors to see a fine example of Georgian interior design. Today, the site is occupied by a modern office building at 31 St James’s Square. The 1938 facade was preserved and reinstalled on the new structure, completed in 2024. Plaques on the exterior recall the building’s wartime role under General Dwight D. Eisenhower. The area remains part of Westminster’s historic core, where the legacy of Norfolk House endures in its surviving elements and commemorative features.