Lancaster House - Definition

Lancaster House is a mansion in the St James's district in the West End of London.

Lancaster House was commenced in the early nineteenth century for the Duke of York and Albany, the second son of King George III, but was a shell at his death. It was purchased by and completed for the 2nd Marquess of Stafford (later 1st Duke of Sutherland) and was known as Stafford House for almost a century. It was assessed for rating purposes (i.e. for property taxes) as the most valuable private house in London. In the early Twentieth Century it was purchased by Sir William Lever, 1st Baronet (later 1st Viscount Leverhulme) who renamed it in honour of his native county of Lancashire and presented it to the British Nation. At one time Lancaster House was the home of the London Museum, but it is now used for government receptions and is not open to the public except on rare open days.