After more than five years of war, Britain was still recovering from the ravages of austerity and deprivations from rationing as it leaves the 1940s and enters the 1950s. The British people were more than ready to find something to celebrate. What could be more appropriate, than the celebration of the centenary of the Great Exhibition of 1851?

The Festival of Britain was to show the world of our achievements towards the arts, sciences and technology. The Royal Festival Hall was just one part, albeit a major part, of the festival.

Planning and Building

After an incendiary bomb had destroyed London's only major concert hall (the Queen's Hall) in 1941, the Labour Government announced the plans for a permanent concert structure in 1948. The Prime Minister, Clement Atlee, laid the foundation stone in October, 1949.

The Royal Festival Hall was designed by Sir Hubert Bennett, Sir Robert Matthew and Leslie Martin and built on the south bank of the Thames on land cleared of derelict warehouses and factories.

It was the London County Council who paid the £2 million outlay on the Hall as their contribution towards the Festival of Britain.

It took 18 months for the building to be completed. Using the new innovative idea of prefabricated concrete sections, it slotted into place perfectly.