Victoria and Albert Museum London, England, UK

Museum of art and antiquities founded by Queen Victoria and built between 1860 and 1909.

Becket Casket, c. 1180 — Reliquary casket made in Limoges, France, to hold relics of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, who was murdered by knights in his cathedral in 1170. Many Becket caskets were produced in Limoges; this is probably the earliest to survive. Medieval and Renaissance Galleries, Victoria & Albert Museum, London. Image credit: Holly Hayes

Listed Building Description

Text courtesy of Historic England. © Crown Copyright, reprinted under the Open Government License.

TQ 2679 SE TQ 2779 SW CROMWELL ROAD SW7 39/5 40/5 Victoria and Albert 15.4.69 Museum

GV I

Museum. 1860 by Sir Henry Cole and Captain Fowke. Unique facades of the quadrangle form the heart of the Museum. Terra-cotta decorations by Godfrey Sykes and mosaics by Townroe. West side 1861-63. North side 1864-68. On ground floor are the old Refreshment Rooms built by 1867, consisting of the central Refreshment Room decorated by Sykes and Gamble, the Green Dining Room decorated by William Morris, and the Grill Room designed in 1869 by D J Poynter and completed in 1874. Also the staircase leading up to first floor, designed by F W Moody with a mosaic portrait of Henry Cole 1868-76. On first floor the old Ceramic Gallery completed about 1868 with elaborate decoration including ceramic-faced columns by Minton. (Dismantled 1914). East side completed by late 1890's and connected up with south side which is the library side and built in 1884. The south courts of iron construction were built in 1862. They are now boxed in to make the present museum restaurant and tapestry court. The decoration of these courts was completed by 1874. The lunettes at either end of the eastern court were decorated by Lord Leighton in 1880 and 1886. The main entrance hall and staircase designed by Aston Webb in 1891 and built 1899-1901. Queen Victoria laid the foundation stone, the last major ceremony she performed, and the south front was completed in 1909. Colonnade connecting with Royal College of Science (now Henry Cole wing). Much of the Museum's interior has recently been restored. John Physick: The Victoria and Albert Museum.

Listing NGR: TQ2698579096