Pembroke House


Pembroke House, located on Whitehall, was the London residence of the earls of Pembroke.

History

It was built by the architect earl Henry Herbert in 1723–24, on ground leased by the earl in 1717 and 1729 amidst the ruins of the parts of Whitehall Palace that burned down in 1698. Its design may have inspired the 9th earl's designs for Marble Hill House. The 9th earl died here in 1733, as did his great-grandson the 11th Earl, in 1827.
It was the subject of a major rebuild by the 10th Earl in 1756–59, and in 1762 Lady Hervey wrote that it was "taken for the Duc de Nivernois, the French Ambassador". Gardens were created in 1818 by demolishing the house's riding-house and stables, and the main floor-level terrace was retained. The lease was repeatedly renewed until in or around 1853, when the land and house became crown freehold. It was demolished to build the Ministry of Defence main building in 1938.