The Residence
Since 2004 the official Residence of the British Ambassador has been located at Quinta das Águias, Calçada da Boa Hora, in Lisbon, between the quarters of Alcântara and Belém, one of the prime residential areas in Lisbon.
Quinta das Águias became the new Residence when the old Lapa Residence ceased to be British Government property. The building dates back around 200 years and includes a windmill and an 18th century water fountain attributed to Mardel. It was listed as a building of "public interest" by the Portuguese Ministry of Culture in 1996.
Historic note: between 1840 and 2004 the official Residence of the British Ambassador in Lisbon was located in the Lapa quarter, at Rua São Francisco Borja. (frase que pertence em baixo junto a foto da antiga Residência) The home of the Ambassador is known as the Residence. It is not only home to the Ambassador and family but it is also a resource to help the Embassy, the British Government, the British Community in Portugal, and British interests generally. The Ambassador opens his home regularly to promote British business and products, to help British organisations in Portugal to hold charitable events, and to entertain a wide range of government, business and other contacts.
This building had a long association with Britain as the owners of the day allowed the Duke off Wellington to use it during his time in Lisbon. In the 1820s it was used as the French Embassy and in the 1840's the building was leased to the British Government as the Ambassador's official Residence and the Embassy. The British Government purchased it in 1875. In 1942 the Embassy Chancery moved out to Porto Covo Palace in Rua São Domingos à Lapa. The Embassy moved again in 1995 to its present location in Rua de São Bernardo.
