HM Treasury News Release

148/98                                   14 September 1998
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                      TREASURY OPEN HOUSE 
                                
                 HISTORIC WHITEHALL IN PICTURES

Over 100 paintings, engravings, photographs and other records of
Whitehall from the 17th century to the present day are to go on
public display at the Treasury. The public will also be able to
visit parts of the Grade II* listed building including, for the
first time, the Chancellor's office .

The exhibition can be seen by visitors to the Treasury on
Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September as part of the London Open
House celebration of the architecture of the capital. The
exhibition will be open to the public from 10.00am to 5.00 pm
each day. A catalogue of the exhibits will be available. The
majority of the pictures come from the Lister Collection, which
was last exhibited 50 years ago. 

Welcoming the exhibition, mounted on the 300th anniversary of the
destruction by fire of Henry VIII's Whitehall Palace, Chancellor
of the Exchequer Gordon Brown said :

     "Whitehall is synonymous with Government around the world.
     This exhibition is a fascinating view of its historic
     development and an important step in our commitment to
     opening up our national heritage to the public.   
     
     "Many of  us who live and work around Whitehall grow to
     take this part of our heritage  almost for granted. It
     deserves to be recognised and seen more widely for the
     human perspective  it gives to the heart of Government
     through the centuries. 
     
     "I am pleased to open the exhibition and the Grade II*
     listed Treasury building to the public during London Open
     House weekend so that they  will have the opportunity to
     see these for themselves. I hope that as many people as
     possible will take the opportunity to visit us." 
  




NOTES FOR EDITORS

1.   The Lister Collection was amassed by R A Lister, Librarian
     of the Board of Trade for more than 20 years until his
     retirement in 1919. On his death in 1946 the collection was
     presented to HM Treasury. It includes original
     watercolours, contemporary engravings, 19th and 20th century
     newspaper cuttings, photographs and other material.   

2.   The exhibition will be open to the public on Saturday 19
     and Sunday 20 September. Visitors can access the exhibition
     from the Treasury main entrance in Parliament Street, SW1.
     There will be guided tours of the exhibition at
     approximately 30 minute intervals. The last of these will
     be at 4.30 pm each day.
 
3.   The Open House celebration of London's architecture
     provides free entry to over 450 buildings across the
     capital. It is part of the national Heritage Open Days
     programme co-ordinated in London by London Open House, and
     in the rest of England by the Civic Trust. London Open
     House gives the capital a voice in European Heritage Days,
     a cultural initiative involving 40 countries in a Europe-
     wide programme of celebrations of architecture.

4.   Media   enquiries   about    the   London   Open   House  
     programme  should  be   addressed   to  London  Open  House 
     on  0181  347  6007.   Further  information is also
     available on their website at 
     http://www.londonopenhouse.demon.co.uk/.

5.   Media enquiries about the Treasury Open House exhibition
     should be addressed to HM Treasury Press Office on 0171 270
     5188.

6.   If you have access to the Internet you can find this
     information and material on other Treasury matters at
      http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk.  




# = pounds sterling