ɚɹˈɪdʒɪnəli kənsˈiːvd æz ɐ pˈɜːpəsbˈɪlt hɛdkwˈɔːɹɾɚz fɚðɪ ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ fˈoʊk dˈæns səsˈaɪəɾi, ænd nˈaʊ ɡɹˈeɪd ɹˌoʊmən tˈuːlˈɪstᵻd, ɪt wʌz dɪzˈaɪnd ɪnðə nˈiːoʊdʒˈɔːɹdʒən stˈaɪl baɪ ˈɑːɹkɪtˌɛkt hˈɛnɹi mˈɑːɹtɪnˌoʊ flˈɛtʃɚ, ænd ˈoʊpənd ˌɔn sˈɛvən dʒˈuːn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːɾi.
Originally conceived as a purpose-built headquarters for the English Folk Dance Society, and now Grade II-listed, it was designed in the neo-Georgian style by architect Henry Martineau Fletcher, and opened on 7 June 1930.