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Coordinates: 51°30′56″N 0°06′15″W / 51.5156°N 0.1041°W / 51.5156; -0.1041
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{{Short description|London office building (1972–2004)}}
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'''Caroone House''' was a London office block in [[Farringdon Street]] which was built in the 1970s on the site of the [[Congregational Memorial Hall]].<ref name=Binfield>{{citation |chapter=Memory enstructured The case of Memorial Hall |author=Clyde Binfield |pages=160–174 |title=Memory and Memorials, 1789-1914: Literary and Cultural Perspectives |publisher=Routledge |year=2002 |isbn=9781134583003}}</ref> It was used by [[British Telecom]] for their international business and for [[telephone tapping]].<ref>{{citation |title=Stranger on the Line: the secret history of phone tapping |pages=98–99 |author=Patrick Fitzgerald, Mark Leopold |year=1987}}</ref> It was demolished in 2004 to be replaced by the [[Ludgate West]] development.
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox building
|name = Caroone House
|image = LabourPartyPlaque.jpg
|image_size = 250px
|caption = Labour Party Plaque at the entrance to Caroone House (2004)
|start_date =
|completion_date = 1972
|demolition_date = 2004
|building_type = [[Telephone exchange]]
|location = 14 [[Farringdon Street]], [[London]], {{postcode|EC|4}}<br />United Kingdom
|coordinates = {{coord|51.5156|-0.1041|region:GB_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
|top_floor =
|antenna_spire =
|roof =
|floor_count = 7
|floor_area =
|elevator_count =
|architect =
|structural_engineer=
|main_contractor =
|developer =
|owner = [[Post Office Telecommunications]]
|management =
}}
⚫
'''Caroone House''' was an office block at 14 [[Farringdon Street]], London EC4, which was built in 1972 on the site of the [[Congregational Memorial Hall]] which had been demolished in 1968.<ref name=Binfield>{{citation |chapter=Memory enstructured The case of Memorial Hall |author=Clyde Binfield |pages=160–174 |title=Memory and Memorials, 1789-1914: Literary and Cultural Perspectives |publisher=Routledge |year=2002 |isbn=9781134583003}}</ref>

==History of Site==
The Memorial Hall and Caroone House were built on the site of the old [[Fleet Prison]]. The prison was burnt down during the [[Great Fire of London]] and while the prison was being rebuilt, the prisoners were relocated to Caron House, South Lambeth, a large mansion house which had been built by Noel de Caron the Netherlands ambassador to England in the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I.<ref>[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/old-new-london/vol2/pp404-416 British History Online]. Accessed 12 October 2016</ref> In 1685 Caron House was demolished but the name survived and in the 19th century there was a "Carroun House" on the estate - which has been known as Vauxhall Park since 1890.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vauxhallpark.org.uk/history|title = History – Friends of Vauxhall Park}}</ref> As a consequence of this rich history, "Caroone House" was adopted as an appropriate name for the new building in Farringdon Street.

A [[Greater London Council]] plaque commemorating the foundation of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] at the Memorial Hall in 1900 was displayed at the main entrance to Caroone House.

==BT==
The building was used by [[Post Office Telecommunications]] - from 1981 [[British Telecom]] (BT) - as the headquarters for its Post Office International Telephones division (designated as ITp) for operating their international business and for [[telephone tapping]]. Among other things it was the HQ for managing the operation of ITps International Control Centres (ICCs) in London, Brighton and Glasgow. It was also HQ for what was, at the time, the world's largest international telecoms exchange located on the site of the old [[Stag Lane Aerodrome]] in [[Edgware]].<ref>{{citation |title=Stranger on the Line: the secret history of phone tapping |pages=98–99 |author=Patrick Fitzgerald, Mark Leopold |year=1987}}</ref> The Stag Lane exchange was later superseded by BTs new international switching centre (ISC) at [[Mondial House]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.btplc.com/Thegroup/BTsHistory/1969to1980/1976.htm |title=BT History 1976 |access-date=1 October 2018 |archive-date=2 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002020252/https://www.btplc.com/Thegroup/BTsHistory/1969to1980/1976.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Closure==
In 2001 Caroone House was purchased by [[British Land|The British Land Company plc]] for £24.5 million. The building was demolished in 2004 to be replaced by the Ludgate West development. British Land commenced construction in 2005 with completion in 2007 and today 5 Fleet Place stands on the site. The Labour Party plaque has been reinstated on the wall of the redevelopment.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20150513035227/http://www.emporis.com/buildings/218301/five-fleet-place-london-united-kingdom Emporis entry on 5 Fleet Place]}}. Accessed 3 March 2016</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


{{coord missing|London}}
{{BT Group}}
{{Espionage}}
{{LB Camden}}


[[Category:1972 establishments in England]]
[[Category:British Telecom buildings and structures]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 2004]]
[[Category:Demolished buildings and structures in London]]
[[Category:Demolished buildings and structures in London]]
[[Category:Former buildings and structures in the London Borough of Camden]]
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[[Category:Telephone tapping]]
[[Category:History of telecommunications in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Office buildings completed in 1972]]
[[Category:Office buildings in London]]
[[Category:Office buildings in London]]
[[Category:Telephone exchange buildings]]

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[[Category:Telephone tapping]]
{{London-stub}}

Latest revision as of 20:43, 20 November 2024

Caroone House
Labour Party Plaque at the entrance to Caroone House (2004)
Map
General information
TypeTelephone exchange
Location14 Farringdon Street, London, EC4
United Kingdom
Coordinates51°30′56″N 0°06′15″W / 51.5156°N 0.1041°W / 51.5156; -0.1041
Completed1972
Demolished2004
OwnerPost Office Telecommunications
Technical details
Floor count7

Caroone House was an office block at 14 Farringdon Street, London EC4, which was built in 1972 on the site of the Congregational Memorial Hall which had been demolished in 1968.[1]

History of Site

[edit]

The Memorial Hall and Caroone House were built on the site of the old Fleet Prison. The prison was burnt down during the Great Fire of London and while the prison was being rebuilt, the prisoners were relocated to Caron House, South Lambeth, a large mansion house which had been built by Noel de Caron the Netherlands ambassador to England in the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I.[2] In 1685 Caron House was demolished but the name survived and in the 19th century there was a "Carroun House" on the estate - which has been known as Vauxhall Park since 1890.[3] As a consequence of this rich history, "Caroone House" was adopted as an appropriate name for the new building in Farringdon Street.

A Greater London Council plaque commemorating the foundation of the Labour Party at the Memorial Hall in 1900 was displayed at the main entrance to Caroone House.

BT

[edit]

The building was used by Post Office Telecommunications - from 1981 British Telecom (BT) - as the headquarters for its Post Office International Telephones division (designated as ITp) for operating their international business and for telephone tapping. Among other things it was the HQ for managing the operation of ITps International Control Centres (ICCs) in London, Brighton and Glasgow. It was also HQ for what was, at the time, the world's largest international telecoms exchange located on the site of the old Stag Lane Aerodrome in Edgware.[4] The Stag Lane exchange was later superseded by BTs new international switching centre (ISC) at Mondial House.[5]

Closure

[edit]

In 2001 Caroone House was purchased by The British Land Company plc for £24.5 million. The building was demolished in 2004 to be replaced by the Ludgate West development. British Land commenced construction in 2005 with completion in 2007 and today 5 Fleet Place stands on the site. The Labour Party plaque has been reinstated on the wall of the redevelopment.[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Clyde Binfield (2002), "Memory enstructured The case of Memorial Hall", Memory and Memorials, 1789-1914: Literary and Cultural Perspectives, Routledge, pp. 160–174, ISBN 9781134583003
  2. ^ British History Online. Accessed 12 October 2016
  3. ^ "History – Friends of Vauxhall Park".
  4. ^ Patrick Fitzgerald, Mark Leopold (1987), Stranger on the Line: the secret history of phone tapping, pp. 98–99
  5. ^ "BT History 1976". Archived from the original on 2 October 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  6. ^ Emporis entry on 5 Fleet Place[usurped]. Accessed 3 March 2016
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