Sir John Soane, prominent Georgian architect, produced a series of architectural masterpieces in his lifetime. In commemoration of the 80th anniversary of VE Day, academics from Sir John Soane's Museum and others look back to see how his architecture survived among the chaos of World War II.

How were the buildings affected? What remains of them now?

Using newspaper clippings, journal entries, and photos from archives, the articles below uncover how Sir John Soane's Museum, Dulwich Picture Gallery, Bentley Priory, the Infirmary at the Royal Hospital Chelsea and Nos 10 & 11 Downing Street fared during the national emergency.

Soanean architecture was also hugely affected in World War I. Archivist and Head of Library Services at Sir John Soane’s Museum, Susan Palmer, has collated extensive information from the archive which tells the story of the Museum’s survival between 1914 and 1918, and how the staff and Trustees were able to reopen the building after the war. You can download her article below.