Ministry of Plenty

Shell Mex House at 80, Strand, London
Designed by Messrs Joseph, with F. Milton Cashmore responsible for most of the work.
Built in 1930-31.

During the Second World War, the building became home to the Ministry of Supply which co-ordinated supply of equipment to the national armed forces. It was also the home of the "Petroleum Board" which handled the distribution and rationing of petroleum products during the war. Beyond any doubt these institutions were a model for George Orwell's Ministry of Plenty (see 1984).

View from the Thames by Barbara Rich @ Flickr