History and Architecture of OAB

The Old Admiralty Building (OAB) is a Grade II listed building comprising of red brick and Portland stone with slate and lead roofs and features French Grand Siecle and English Baroque details. Inside the building there are beautiful mosaic floors and also intricate metalwork balustrades.

The Admiralty was a former government department responsible for the British navy which was replaced by the Ministry of Defence in 1964.

The building forms a distinct part of the historic Admiralty complex of buildings that includes The Admiralty or Ripley Building (1723-6) which is fronted by the Admiralty Screen (1759-60), Admiralty House (1788) and also Admiralty Arch (1908-11) and the Citadel (1940-41).

OAB was designed as a purpose-built government office block comprising part of the Admiralty in the 1890s and built in three separate phases from 1894 until its completion in 1905.

OAB replaced earlier townhouses that by the 1880s were too small to accommodate the growing number of civil servants.

The building was designed by the architectural firm of Leeming and Leeming which comprised two brothers - John and Joseph Leeming from Halifax.

The building was refurbished between 2014 and 2020 with the project led by BDP and the main contractor, Wilmott Dixon Interiors. This work included major structural alterations, asbetos management, instillation of new chillers that were craned into the courtyard as well heritage conservation work and the covering and removal of around 400 oak doors.

OAB has been at the centre of history. For instance, it was in this building that Briitsh naval intelligence devised the plot known as "Operation Mincemeat" to fool Hitler and the Germans about the invasion of Sicily.

Former notable people who have worked in the building include Viscount Cunnigham, Dame Victoire Ridsdale, Baron Sir John Arbuthnot Fisher, the 'James Bond' author Ian Fleming, and also Winston Churchill.

About the Government Art Collection

The Government Art Collection (GAC) is located in one part of the Old Admiralty Building. The GAC is a national collection of historic, modern and contemporary British art that is displayed in government buildings in the UK and around the world. These locations include 10 & 11 Downing Street, government departments, and the residences of British Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Consulates-General in over 125 countries worldwide.

The works are seen by thousands of visitors, promoting British art and contributing to cultural diplomacy. The collection includes over 15,000 works of art from the 16th century to the present day, including paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, photographs, textiles, and video works.

The GAC is celebrating its 125th year. It can trace its orgins back to 5th December 1899 when Reginald Baliol Brett, the Permanent Secretary to the Office of Works, wrote to Sir Francis Mowatt, the Permanent Secretary to the Treasury asking to spend £150 to buy five artworks for the Foreign Office as a way to brighten up tired looking government offices.

The GAC now plays a key role in Britain's cultural diplomacy.

The GAC is part of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

Requirements of entry into OAB

1, Entry into OAB is strictly by pre-booked guided tour entry only.
2. Your registration on the Open House website does not guarantee you automatic entry. After you have pre-registered you will be asked to submit your additional passport and contact details . You will only receive a tour place once you have received a final confirmation email directly from the Department for Business and Trade. If you are not on the final attendees list you will not be allowed entry into the building.
3. All visitors on the final confirmed attendance list MUST bring a valid passport or physical driving licence photo ID on the day to show at reception on arrival which will be checked against the confirmed visitors list. If you are not on the final list you will not be let in.
3. Visitors will be refused access without a valid physical photographic form of ID such as a passport.
4. All visitors should expect airport style security checks.
5. Please arrive shortly before the start of the tour. Late entry is not permitted.
6. No bags (including handbags, suitcases etc) are allowed in the building.
7. There are no cloakrooms and access to use of toilets is not available.
8. We recommend that high heels are not worn due to the Victorian mosaic flooring in the building.
9. No smoking or vaping is allowed in the building.
10. Photography is restricted. You will be advised where you can take photos. No large cameras are allowed.
11. If you are unable to attend on the day and need to cancel the week before, please be aware that this will deprive another person of a tour spot and that spaces are very limited.