The vision for the building Central Hall Westminster took shape, when Methodist Central Hall acquired the Royal Aquarium site in London. Rather than commissioning a design, an anonymous architectural competition was held in 1904-5, judged by Sir Aston Webb, the architect behind Admiralty Arch and the V&A Museum façade. The brief explicitly stated the building must not be Gothic, to distinguish it from Westminster Abbey and the Palace of Westminster.

From 132 anonymous entries, nine finalists were awarded a 100-guinea fee for detailed designs. The winning proposal, entry number 27, was by architects Edwin Alfred Rickards and Henry Vaughan Lanchester. Lanchester’s engineering expertise introduced a pioneering use of reinforced concrete, enhancing the building’s structural integrity. The final design blended Viennese Baroque with Romanesque details, inspired by the Paris Opera House.

The total construction cost was £242,206, but the prime London location pushed the land price to £340,982. To manage expenses, surplus land was sold, though debts weren’t cleared until 1972, nearly 70 years later.

Now a Grade II listed landmark*, Central Hall Westminster remains a testament to innovation and resilience, seamlessly blending historic grandeur with modern engineering, securing its place as one of Westminster’s most distinctive buildings.