The designs for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office date from 1861. Originally George Gilbert Scott, the architect, had produced a Gothic design, but this had been dismissed by Palmerston, the Prime Minister, as “the barbarism of the Dark Ages”. A later Byzantine scheme was criticised as “a regular mongrel affair”, and eventually Scott was persuaded to adopt an Italianate style. Work on the site began in 1861, and by 1868 the building was open for business.

Cross Section of paint from the railings

I was commissioned to carry out the paint analysis of the railings in King Charles Street.

The Foreign Office railings in King Charles’ Street before they were painted Venetian Red


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