Carlton House Terrace SW1

15 October 1940

By Kelly Rakerd

On 10 October 1940 at around 12am a high explosive bomb struck the north eastern end of No's 19-21 Carlton House Terrace SW1. No casualties were reported.

Five days later - at 2.05am on 15 October 1940 - a bomb hit 1 Carlton House Terrace. The police responded five minutes later at 2.10am. The officer on site sent an urgent request for an ambulance.

1 Carlton House Terrace replaced an earlier structure known as Carlton House, famously occupied by the Prince Regent for several decades from 1783. Overlooking St James's Park. Carlton House Terrace was designed by architect John Nash. After the Prince Regent became King George IV in 1820 he decided he wanted a grander residence. Rebuilding and refurbishing Carlton House was considered but instead Buckingham House was rebuilt and later became Buckingham Palace. Carlton House was subsequently demolished and replaced by two large white stucco terraces known as Carlton House Terrace in 1830. In the 1860s the buildings were broken up into several different private residences.

Four and a half hours after the incident at Carlton House Terrace, police officers at the site gave the all clear. The location was confirmed as 1 Carlton House Terrace, home since 1936 to the Savage Club. The Savage Club was a gentleman's club founded in 1857 which boasted former members such as Charlie Chaplin and Mark Twain. The building's Council Room and library one floor below were confirmed as destroyed. Two Club members were injured during the explosion but were taken to the hospital by ambulance. The ARP Incident Report stated that there were no other casualties and no fire. Photographs taken after the bombing show damage to the ground, first and second floor façade of the building. The floors within had collapsed.

In 1969 the site of Nos 19-21 Carlton House Terrace was cleared. The address is now occupied by British Council offices and flats. In 1949 bomb damage to 1 Carlton House Terrace was repaired but major restoration did not take place until 1969-1972. Today, 1 Carlton House Terrace is home to the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.