Millbank

For other places called Millbank, see Millbank (disambiguation)

Coordinates: 51°29′58″N 0°08′00″W / 51.4995°N 0.1333°W / 51.4995; -0.1333

Millbank
Millbank  Millbank shown within Greater London
OS grid reference	TQ295795
London borough	Westminster
Ceremonial county	Greater London
Region	London
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	LONDON
Postcode district	SW1
Dialling code	020
Police	Metropolitan
Fire	London
Ambulance	London
EU Parliament	London
UK Parliament	Cities of London and Westminster
London Assembly	West Central
List of places: UK • England • London

Millbank is an area of central London in the City of Westminster. Millbank is located by the River Thames, east of Pimlico and south of Westminster. The area derives its name from a mill house belonging to nearby Westminster Abbey.

Millbank's general appearance dates from the 1930s, when the area was extensively rebuilt to repair damage caused by the 1928 Thames flood disaster, following the collapse of a 25m section of the Thames Embankment.

Tate Britain (Millbank)

Chelsea College of Art and Design (Millbank)

Jeté (Enzo Plazzotta)

Millbank shares the name of the main road (A3212) along the north bank of the River Thames, extending northwards from Vauxhall Bridge to Abingdon Street, just south from Parliament Square. There are parliamentary offices situated across this road, notably No.7, built as the headquarters of British American Tobacco. The road was created as part of the Thames Embankment in the mid 19th century and lies above a large interceptor sewer.

The former Royal Army Medical College, situated at Millbank, is the site where the vaccine for typhoid was first developed, and in the late 19th century, was where the world’s first modern prison was established. The listed site has since been renovated as a purpose built arts college for the Chelsea College of Art and Design in 2005. The Tate Britain art gallery is situated directly opposite near the end of Vauxhall Bridge, providing a distinct arts presence in the area.

The headquarters of the British chemicals giant ICI was originally located at Nobel House in Millbank before it relocated to Manchester Square, also situated in London. The headquarters for the Northern Ireland Office, MI5 and Thames House are also nearby.

Before the 1997 General Election, the Labour Party acquired two floors of the Millbank Tower as its headquarters. The £1 million per annum rent, however, forced the party to vacate the tower in 2001 for 16 Old Queen Street. Neighbouring College Green is used as the location for interviewing politicians outdoors.

In British politics, the term 'Millbank Machine' or 'Millbank tendency' (a play on 'Militant tendency') was initially used to refer to those who were regarded by some as spin doctors.

Millbank Studios reside in the area as an independent broadcast company, owned by ITV. The studio is situated opposite the Houses of Parliament. The BBC Parliament broadcasting channel is also situated nearby (intended to broadcast parliamentary and general political coverage on behalf of the BBC). No.4 is the location commonly used by broadcasters for producing coverage of the Westminster area, including the BBC,^[1] Sky News^[2][3] and ITV. RTÉ News and Current Affairs also have their London bureau at the same location.^[4]

Notable buildings

Millbank Estate is a large but highly regarded Grade II listed red brick housing estate that gives the area behind Tate Britain a distinct character. The bricks were recycled from Europe's largest prison that was demolished in the late 19th Century and the erected 17 buildings of one of London's earliest and exemplary Social Housing schemes carry the names of distinguished painters such as Turner, Gainsborough, Millais, etc. The estate has 562 flats, all managed on behalf of Westminster City Council by MEMO, the largest tenant management organisation (TMO) in Westminster and a leading force in community supported living. The estate's management board, elected annually from the resident population, provides the leadership and many further residents are known for volunteering in community serving committees and specific engagement to further the quality of life in the area. Half of the estate's flats are leaseholds, the other half is rented from Westminster City Council. The estate's buildings are kept up well with a regular major works program, features lovely planting throughout the court yards and one of the nicest childrens playgrounds in Central London (Causton Street Playground), featuring a great toddlers pool, large sand pit and a ball play court, is bordering the estate. Millbank Gardens with a little brick pavilion and sculpted gardens is located between the estate and Tate Britain, and provides a much loved space for relaxation, utilised by local residents and Tate visitors from around the world. All this turned Millbank Estate in to one of London's most desired living locations.

Hide Tower is a twenty story building of 162 flats built by the local council and was designed by architects Stillman & Eastwick-Field. The complex has an arrangement of thirty trees on the site including a private flower garden. There is also a mini golf facility and community hall for resident meetings. Approximately a quarter of the accommodation is privately rented; the other half is rented from Westminster City Council and the remainder is owner occupied. The name derives from "hide", an old English land measure (used in the Domesday Survey of 1086).

Millbank Tower is a dominating, modernistic office complex between the river Thames, Millbank estate and Tate Britain Gallery. The tower building has become famous for previously housing the office of the Labour Party and now the Conservative Party. There are also various restaurants. A lovely, but slightly hidden public garden is at the back of the building and one of the best places to rest in the area.

Millbank Millenium Pier is a modern river Thames pier structure, connecting Tate Britain with Tate Modern with a schedule service by the Damien Hirst designed riverboat.

The nearest London Underground stations are Westminster, Pimlico and Victoria. London Victoria is also a National Rail main line terminus and nearby is the national coach station. Waterloo and Charing Cross Rail station are also not far. Millbank is well connected with the rest of Central London and going South of the river by bus services such as number 87, 88, C10, 507, 2, 36, 365 and 185.

References

1. ^ "Guide to Media Contacts and Addresses". Press for Change. http://www.pfc.org.uk/node/72. Retrieved 11 May 2010. 
2. ^ "Day at Millbank". TV Newsroom. http://tvnewsroom.co.uk/sky-news/sky-news-images-day-at-millbank/. Retrieved 11 May 2010. 
3. ^ "Sky News Radio Sole National News Supplier to UK Commercial Stations". Sky News Press Office. http://www.skypressoffice.co.uk/SkyNews/Resources/showarticle.asp?id=2668. Retrieved 11 May 2010. 
4. ^ "RTÉ Studios". RTÉ.ie. http://www.rte.ie/about/studios.html. Retrieved 11 May 2010.