The British Museum

Sir Robert Smirke built the museum in Portland stone between 1823 and 1847, planning it as a quadrangle extending north from Montague House, which was demolished around 1840 (NHLE 1130404). The South Range of 1842–47 carries an Ionic octastyle portico whose order is copied from the temple of Athene Polias at Priene, and the pediment sculpture is Westmacott's 'Progress of Civilisation'. The East Wing of 1823–26 used iron beams clad in concrete by the engineer John Rastrick, an early instance of the technique. Sydney Smirke's Round Reading Room of 1852–57 was put up to fill the open quadrangle and has a domed cast-iron roof. Three further entries on the National Heritage List cover the curtilage separately: the main entrance gateway, railings and lodges at Grade II*, NHLE 1130406; eighteen forecourt lamp posts at Grade II, NHLE 1130405; and the King Edward VII Galleries at Grade I, NHLE 1322129.