MI6 Headquarters — 'The Vauxhall Trollop'

The MI6 Headquarters at 85 Albert Embankment in London is a £130 million fortress designed by architect Sir Terry Farrell, featuring a Faraday cage, two moats, and 25 types of glass. Influenced by 1930s industrial modernism and Aztec temples, the building stands on the former 1850s site of the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. On 20 September 2000, the Real IRA fired a Russian RPG-22 rocket at its eighth floor, causing minimal damage.

London · from the walk “Secrets of Westminster & MI6” · audio ~4 min · Generated

MI6 Headquarters — 'The Vauxhall Trollop'

85 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TP

When was the MI6 Headquarters at 85 Albert Embankment in London attacked with a rocket?

Take a look at this building across the river. Cream and green, layered like a wedding cake designed by a Bond villain. Known by many names... Legoland, The Ziggurat, and my personal favourite... The Vaux-hall Trollop. This is eighty five Albert Embankment... the real home of MI six.......... Now here's the thing. This postmodern citadel Wasn'T purpose built for spies. Architect Sir Terry Farrell envisaged a general commercial building with an "urban village" quality. It was only later bought by the government and adapted into a fortress. The government proposed to pay for the building outright to maintain secrecy over the intended use of the site... because at this time, the existence of MI six was not officially acknowledged by the UK government. They bought a hundred and thirty million pound building... and couldn't even say who it was For.......... Farrell's design was influenced by nineteen thirties industrial modernist architecture like Battersea Power Station... and Mayan and Aztec religious temples. And you can see it, can't you? Those stepped, ziggurat-like layers rising from the Thames. The building has sixty separate roof areas and uses twenty five different types of glass. The walls and windows are designed to withstand bullets and bombs, and there's a Faraday cage inside that prevents electronic eavesdropping. It even features two moats for protection.......... Before all this, this site was the location of the Vaux-hall Pleasure Gardens. Those were swept away in the eighteen fifties and replaced by industrial units... a glass factory, a vinegar works, and a gin distillery. Archaeological excavation during construction found the remains of seventeenth century glass kilns, barge houses, and an inn called The Vine. From pleasure gardens to gin to Spies. Quite the career change for one piece of land.......... And before this building, MI six was based at Century House near Lambeth North. Shabby and anonymous, more Harry Palmer than James Bond, its cover was regularly blown by extrovert bus conductors shouting "Spies Corner!" while passengers looked to see who got off. That's right... London's top secret spy headquarters was being outed by Bus Drivers.......... Now, the attack. On the twentieth of September two thousand, the Real Irish Republican Army fired a single Russian-manufactured R P G twenty two anti-tank rocket from about three hundred metres away, striking the eighth floor. It was carried out at nine forty five pm under the cover of darkness... and it was the First time this Russian rocket launcher had ever been used in Britain. Damage was limited to one window and two wall panels on the eighth floor. The building barely flinched.......... No individuals were ever arrested or convicted in connection with the attack. The case remains unsolved to this day.......... And one last detail that might make you smile. A special premiere of The World Is Not Enough was held right here at Vaux-hall Cross for MI six staff... who Cheered when their headquarters was destroyed in the film. Even spies, it seems, enjoy watching their own office blow up.

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