The Vaults

The Vaults at RSA House were originally designed as the basement for the Adams’ terraces of private residences and intended for warehouse storage and stabling.

They ran from under the House and the Royal Terrace at the level of the Thames, down to the river before the construction of the Victoria Embankment.

For many years, wine was brought up the river in casks and bottled in adjoining cellars before being laid down in vaults. The ‘bin’ numbers are still visible on the wall.

When we took possession of the Vaults in 1982, there was no vertical connection with the main house. Between 1988-90, a staircase was cut out of a narrow vault for the descent into the four vaults on the lowest level in the building.

Between 1988-90, the Vaults were comprehensively redeveloped as a conference facility, with one becoming the Fellow’s dining room and later a restaurant in 1992. In 2018, the restaurant was replaced when The Coffee House was extended. Today, the Vaults are used for conferences, meetings, press launches and weddings.

The raised modular floor of the Vaults is made of oak timbers. The original 18th-century brickwork is exposed and has been sandblasted and sealed.