Farewell to Bush House – in pictures

The Aldwych entrance to Bush House. On Thursday the BBC World Service will broadcast from the building for the last time Photograph: Martin Argles for the Guardian Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian Studio E6 stands idle Photograph: Martin Argles for the Guardian Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian An auction will be held to dispose of the service's unwanted equipment Photograph: Martin Argles for the Guardian Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian A wall map showing the whereabouts of BBC foreign correspondents Photograph: Martin Argles for the Guardian Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian The building was commissioned, designed and originally owned by American individuals and companies. Irving T Bush gained approval for his designs for the building in 1919, which was planned as a major new trade centre and designed by American architect Harvey Wiley Corbett Photograph: Martin Argles for the Guardian Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian The building's opening ceremony was performed by Lord Balfour on 4 July 1925. It included the unveiling of two statues at the entrance made by American artist Malvina Hoffman. The statues symbolise Anglo-American friendship and the building bears the inscription: "To the friendship of English-speaking peoples." Photograph: Martin Argles for the Guardian Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian Turntables ready to be sold off Photograph: Martin Argles for the Guardian Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian A notice in the Russian service studio Photograph: Martin Argles for the Guardian Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian Built partly from Portland stone, in 1929 Bush House was declared the 'most expensive building in the world', having cost around £2m ($10m) Photograph: Martin Argles for the Guardian Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian A lone figure in Bush House. The World Service's new home is in Broadcasting House Photograph: Martin Argles for the Guardian Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian