The brief flowering of Art deco in Britain ended with the outbreak of war in 1939, and by 1980 most of what was left had gone. The Cunard liners were laid-up, the cinema and hotel foyers were redesigned or redeveloped. Eltham Palace is a glorious exception, splendidly restored by English Heritage after they acquired management in 1995.

Stephen and Virginia Courtauld bought the ruined 15th century Great Hall in 1933, and carefully restored it. It has a remarkable false hammerbeam roof. But it has to be said that this fine medieval building is over-shadowed by the extraordinary Seely and Paget-designed house that adjoins it, completed in 1936.

The Entrance Hall, created by the Swedish designer Rolf Engstromer, includes a copy of the iconic huge Marion Dorn circular rug (now in the V&A).

The dining room has pink leather upholstered chairs, bird’s-eye maple veneered walls and a silver ceiling. It is entered through black-and-silver doors portraying animals and birds, drawn from life at London Zoo.

Virginia Courtauld’s vaulted bathroom, lined with onyx and gold mosaic, has goldplated bath taps and a statue of the goddess Psyche.

Nearby are the sleeping quarters of the Courtaulds’ pet ring-tailed lemur, Mah-Jongg, which had its own access to the ground floor from a circular black wooden climbing ladder.

Must See Buildings of Britain is an occasional series on Britain’s most remarkable buildings. Not only the stately homes, palaces and monuments that are part of every tourist itinerary but buildings that are simply worth seeing. Some are well known – although not necessarily for their architecture. Some are less well known – undiscovered gems that are worth a look. Some will take several hours to visit properly; others are not open to the public but merit a few minutes to look at the from the outside.

Must See Buildings has a sister column, Beastly Buildings, which looks at those buildings we all love to hate

If you know a building you think we should cover, email the editor, charlotte@donowdo.com