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.

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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

Tom Thornton

Tom Thornton

Newspaper proprietor and campaigner. Born in Norwood. He became owner and editor of the Beckenham Journal, and used his influence in helping to establish the Croydon Road Recreation Ground. His pre...

Person, Commerce, Community / Clubs

1 memorial
Sainsbury brothers, John, Simon and Timothy

Sainsbury brothers, John, Simon and Timothy

John Davan Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Preston Candover KG (1927–2022), The Hon. Simon Sainsbury (1930–2006) and The Right Honourable Sir Timothy Sainsbury (1932–) were the three sons of Alan Joh...

Group, Benefactor, Commerce

1 memorial
Brabant weavers

Brabant weavers

The Brabant describes a part of the low countries to the east of Flanders.  Weavers had come to England from the Brabant and Flanders during the 12th century.

Group, Commerce, Craft / Design, Belgium, Netherlands

1 memorial
Wereldhave

Wereldhave

A leading independent property company with an internationally diversified real estate portfolio in Europe and the United States.

Group, Commerce, Property

1 memorial
Thornton's Corner

Thornton's Corner

A retail business established by Tom William Thornton and run by his family for over 70 years. The premises (nos 100 - 110) sold stationery, newspapers, books and artists materials, and provided va...

Place, Commerce

1 memorial