Marble Arch

The Marble Arch is a 19th-century white marble-faced triumphal arch in London, England. The structure was designed by John Nash in 1827 as the state entrance to the cour d'honneur of Buckingham Palace; it stood near the site of what is today the three-bayed, central projection of the palace containing the well-known balcony. In the 1840s, with a growing family and entourage, Queen Victoria sought to expand Buckingham Palace. A front range was proposed, which would include the site of the Arch. In 1851, on the initiative of architect and urban planner Decimus Burton, a former pupil of John Nash, the arch was relocated to its current site, near the northeast corner of Hyde Park. The arch gives its name to the area surrounding it, particularly the southern portion of Edgware Road and also to the underground station. The arch is no longer part of the Royal Parks and is maintained by Westminster City Council.