Building    From 1566 

Royal Exchange

Categories: Commerce

The Royal Exchange was established by Thomas Gresham in 1566, following his, and his father's, favourable experiences of the Antwerp Bourse as a place where merchants could arrange credit and loans and so trade effectively.

The first building was lost in the Great Fire but replaced by 1669. A fire insurance company, Royal Exchange Assurance, was based in this building which is depicted on their insignia. Despite this, another, more localised, fire destroyed the second Royal Exchange building in 1838. Prince Albert laid the foundation stone of the third (and last, as of 2007) on 17 January 1842 and two years later Queen Victoria presided at the opening ceremony. This building is by Sir William Tite. If you want to know about the sculpture in the pediment, by Richard Westmacott, son of Richard Westmacott, then Ornamental Passions is the place to go.

Renovated in 2001, the Grade 1 listed building is now, it seems, mainly occupied by seriously expensive jewellery shops. IainVisits has (illicit) photos. 2017:Londonist visited the building and didn't like it very much.

Murals inside painted in 1892 by Lord Leighton and Frank Brangwyn. 2016: Londonist reports that these are at risk.

2023: Londonist's roving reporter found some statues from the building, the one destroyed in the 1838 fire, in the garden of a hotel in Swanage.

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Royal Exchange

Commemorated ati

Prince Albert - Holborn

Prince Albert, dressed as a field marshal, doffs his hat to the passing traff...

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Other Subjects

Swan Wharf & Swan Inn

Swan Wharf & Swan Inn

In the 19th century Swan Wharf was the site of a brewery and public house 'Swan Inn', destroyed by fire in 1871. The image, an 1878 photo by William Reid, shows the tower of All Saints behind. Th...

Building, Commerce, Community / Clubs, Food & Drink

1 memorial
Jonathan’s Coffee House

Jonathan’s Coffee House

Founded by Jonathan Miles in Exchange Alley around 1680. In 1698 John Castaing posted a list of prices for stocks and commodities. And so traders who were expelled from the Royal Exchange used Jona...

Building, Commerce, Community / Clubs, Food & Drink

1 memorial
Sir Horace B. Marshall (Junior)

Sir Horace B. Marshall (Junior)

Publisher and newspaper distributor and Lord Mayor of London, 1918–1919.  Born Streatham, son of Sir Horace Brooks Marshall, whose business he joined.  His daughter married J. Arthur Rank.   Searc...

Person, Commerce, Journalism / Publishing, Lord Mayor

2 memorials
George Odger

George Odger

Shoemaker and trade unionist. Born in Roborough, South Devon. His year of birth on the plaque (1820) contradicts most other sources. He was an itinerant shoemaker for several years before moving to...

Person, Commerce, Politics & Administration

1 memorial