Macdonald House (London)

Macdonald House is a building on Grosvenor Square in Mayfair, London that is part of the High Commission of Canada in London. Macdonald House hosts the trade and administrative sections of the High Commission, while the cultural and consular functions are carried out from Canada House on Trafalgar Square. Previously, Macdoland House was the home of the American Embassy in London.

In 1936 the former buildings on this site were demolished as part of a redevelopment scheme led by the Duke of Westminster. The current building occupies numbers 1 to 3 on the square. [ [http://www.aboutmayfair.co.uk/blog/2007/09/canadian-embassy-for-sale-macdonald.html Mayfair Blog: Canadian Embassy For Sale, MacDonald House Profiled ] ]

The American embassy moved into the building in 1938. The current US embassy, also on Grosvenor Square, was completed in 1960. During the Second World War when the Chancery was on one side and General Eisenhower's headquarters on another, Grosvenor Square became popularly known as "Little America."

The building was renamed Macdoland House in honour of Canada's first prime minister Sir John A. Macdonald, and was reopened by the Canadian high commission on Canada Day, (July 1), 1961.

There had been plans for Canada to sell the building, but this was later reversed. [ [http://www.propertyweek.com/story.asp?storyCode=2002529 Canadians ditch plans to leave Grosvenor Sq - Property Week ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.usembassy.org.uk/rcgrsvnr.html US Embassy page on Grosvenor Square]
* [http://www.international.gc.ca/canada-europa/united_kingdom/embassy1a-en.asp Canadian High Commission's adresses and opening hours]