Cumberland House facts for kids
Cumberland House was a grand house, also known as a mansion. It stood on the south side of Pall Mall in London, England. It was first built in the 1760s.
The famous architect Matthew Brettingham designed it. It was originally built for Prince Edward, Duke of York and Albany. At first, the house was called York House. Sadly, the Duke of York passed away in 1767 when he was only 28 years old. After his death, his brother, Prince Henry, Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn, took over the house. That's how it got its lasting name, Cumberland House.
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What Did Cumberland House Look Like?
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Matthew Brettingham designed the house in a style called late Palladian. This style was popular at the time. The house was wide, with seven sections across its front. It had three main floors, plus a basement and attic rooms. It was built using bricks, with fancy stone decorations.
Changes by the Duke of Cumberland
When the Duke of Cumberland moved in, he made some changes. He bought a house next door and built a new section, or "wing," on the west side. He also added two small buildings, called lodges, near the front entrance. These changes were likely designed by another famous architect, Robert Adam.
Robert Adam also drew many plans to redecorate the inside of the house. These drawings are now kept at the Sir John Soane's Museum. However, only a few of his interior design ideas were actually built.
Who Lived in Cumberland House?
The Duke of Cumberland lived in the house until he passed away in 1790. His wife, Duchess Anne, continued to live there for a while.
New Owners and Government Use
In 1800, the Duchess gave the house to the banks that held mortgages on it. A mortgage is like a loan to buy a property.
- In 1801, the house was sold to a private group called the Union Club.
- In 1806, the Board of Ordnance bought it. This was a government department that managed military supplies.
- From 1858, Cumberland House became the home of the War Office. The War Office was in charge of the British Army.
The government used Cumberland House for over 100 years. They even added another wing on the east side in 1809. The War Office also bought several houses nearby, like Schomberg House. They joined these houses together to create a very large office complex.
What Happened to Cumberland House?
Cumberland House was eventually torn down. This happened in stages between 1908 and 1911. Today, a different building stands on the same spot. This building is the Royal Automobile Club.
