British diplomatic buildings: its embassies, consulates and high commissions, come in all shapes, sizes, styles and ages. They share one purpose which is to support the nation in its international role. They provide its Room for Diplomacy.

This is the first book to tell the story of this building type. It covers well over a hundred buildings around the world: why they were required, how they were procured and who made them happen. Their provision by one government department for another was always contentious, and inevitably led to clashes between distant and impatient diplomats and providers in London with more of an eye on costs and values. It is a two-century saga of competing outlooks.

Mark Bertram CBE was with the civil service for thirty years as architect, manager and quasi-diplomat, and was involved in every aspect of managing these buildings.