Millbank

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other places called Millbank, see Millbank (disambiguation)

Location
Millbank


OS grid reference:	TQ295795
Latitude:	51.499539°
Longitude:	-0.133394°
Administration
London borough:	Westminster
County level:	Greater London
Region:	London
Constituent country:	England
Sovereign state:	United Kingdom
Other
Ceremonial county:	Greater London
Historic county:	Middlesex
Services
Police force:	Metropolitan Police
Fire brigade:	London Fire Brigade
Ambulance service:	London Ambulance
Post office and telephone
Post town:	LONDON
Postal district:	SW1
Dialling code:	020
Politics
UK Parliament:	Cities of London and Westminster
London Assembly:	West Central
European Parliament:	London
London \| List of places in London

Millbank is an area of London, England, east of Pimlico and south of Westminster. The area derives its name from a mill house belonging to nearby Westminster Abbey. By the 19th century, the area was dominated by Millbank Prison used in the deportation of prisoners to the British colonies. Much of Millbank's present appearance dates from the 1930s, when the area was extensively rebuilt to repair damage caused by the 1928 Thames flood disaster, in which 14 local residents drowned following the collapse of a 25m section of the Thames Embankment.

Tate Britain on Millbank facing the River Thames near Vauxhall Bridge.

Millbank is also the name of the main road (A3212) along the north bank of the River Thames, extending northwards from Vauxhall Bridge Road to Abingdon Street, just south of Parliament Square. Many MPs' offices are based in buildings along this road, while the Tate Britain art gallery stands near the Vauxhall Bridge Road end. The road was created as part of the Thames Embankment in the mid 19th century and lies above a large interceptory sewer.

The headquarters of the British chemicals giant ICI were located at Nobel House on Millbank, before it relocated to Manchester Square, also in London. The MI5 headquarters, Thames House, stands nearby.

Before the 1997 General Election, the Labour Party took over two floors of the Millbank Tower as its headquarters. The £1 million per annum rent forced the party to vacate the tower in 2001 for 16 Old Queen Street.

In British politics, the term Millbank Machine or Millbank Tendency (a play on Militant Tendency) was used to refer to those who were regarded by some as spin doctors.

Millbank Studios, an independent broadcast services company, is based in the area, opposite the Houses of Parliament.

No4. Millbank, It is here many major broadcasters base their coverage of Westminster including the BBC, Sky News and ITV companies. RTE also have their London bureau here.

BBC Parliament, a channel dedicated to Parliamentary and general political coverage is run by Millbank Studios on behalf of the BBC.

Neighbouring College Green is used as the location for outside interviews with politicians.