Somerset House: Past and Present explores the long story of a great London building, from palace to public offices and the home of the Royal Academy.

Richly illustrated and carefully sourced, it maps the site’s changing roles across three centuries and offers a clear, accessible narrative for readers curious about architecture, history, and the city’s evolution.

This edition traces the palace’s origins, its transformations under architects like Inigo Jones and Sir William Chambers, and the shifting use of its rooms as government offices, cultural spaces, and a place for royal and public life. It also highlights how the building shaped and reflected English history, including the politics of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the rise of the Royal Academy, and the eventual rebuilding to serve modern government needs. The book weaves together preface notes, historical context, and illustrative details to present a cohesive picture of Somerset House as a landmark of culture and power.

Learn the sequence of changes to the building and its interiors over time.
See how state and art institutions found a home at Somerset House, including the Royal Academy.
Discover the sources and illustrations that document the site, from early maps to engravings and plans.
Understand the broader historical events linked to the palace’s history and its people.

Ideal for readers of architectural history, urban development, and the story of London.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

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