 After a search that had taken several years , Wheeler was able to secure a premises for the Institute of Archaeology : St. John 's Lodge in Regent 's Park , central London . Left empty since its use as a hospital during the First World War , the building was owned by the Crown and was controlled by the First Commissioner of Works , William Ormsby @-@ Gore ; he was very sympathetic to archaeology , and leased the building to the Institute at a low rent . The St. John 's Lodge premises were officially opened on 29 April 1937 . During his speech at the ceremony , the University of London 's Vice @-@ Chancellor Charles Reed Peers made it clear that the building was only intended as a temporary home for the Institute , which it was hoped would be able to move to Bloomsbury , the city 's academic hub . In his speech , the university 's Chancellor , Alexander Cambridge , 1st Earl of Athlone , compared the new institution to both the Institute of Historical Research and the Courtauld Institute of Art . 
 After a search <a href='null_relcl' title='1'><mark>that</mark></a><a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>had</mark></a> taken several years , Wheeler was able to secure a premises for the Institute of Archaeology : St. John <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>Lodge in Regent <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'s</mark></a>Park , central London . Left empty since its use as a hospital during the First World War , the building was owned by the Crown and was controlled by the First Commissioner of Works , William Ormsby @-@ Gore ; he was very sympathetic to archaeology , and leased the building to the Institute at a low rent . The St. John <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>Lodge premises <a href='uninflect' title='6'><mark>were</mark></a> officially opened on 29 April 1937 . During his speech at the ceremony , the University of London <a href='null_genetive' title='7'><mark>'s</mark></a>Vice @-@ Chancellor Charles Reed Peers made it clear that the building was only intended as a temporary home for the Institute , which it was hoped would be able to move to Bloomsbury , the city <a href='null_genetive' title='8'><mark>'s</mark></a>academic hub . In his speech , the university <a href='null_genetive' title='9'><mark>'s</mark></a>Chancellor , Alexander Cambridge , 1st Earl of Athlone , compared the new institution to both the Institute of Historical Research and the Courtauld Institute of Art . 
After a search done taken several years , Wheeler was able to secure a premises for da Institute of Archaeology : St. John  Lodge in Regent  Park , central London . Left empty since its use as a hospital during the First World War , tdabuilding was owned by thdarown and was controlled by thedarst Commissioner of Works , William Ormsby @-@ Gore ; he was very sympathetic to archaeology , and leased the building to the datitute at a low rent . The St. John  Lodge premises was officially opened on 29 April 1937 . During his speech at the cdamony , the University of London  Vice @-@ Chancellor Charles Reed Peers made it clear that the budaing was only intended as a temporary home for the Institute , which it was hoped would b able to move to Bloomsbury , the citdaacademic hub . In his speech , the univdaity  Chancellor , Alexander Cambridge , 1st Earl of Athlone , compared the new idaitution to both the Institute of Historical Research and the Courtauld Institute of Art .