DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1212#0343
THE NEW COAL EXCHANGE. 245
it the angle of the building formed by these two streets
is a circular tower, divided into three stories, 109 feet
high to the top of a gilded ball, and 22 feet in diameter
at the lowest part. The lowest story, containing the en-
trance vestibule is in the Roman-Doric style of architecture.
The wall of the tower also serves as a centre to a flight of
steps which conduct on either hand to a landing on the
first story of the building, and thence a spiral staircase
ascends up in the tower to the other stories. The first
story is of the Ionic order, with an entablature, and
is lighted by windows. The upper story, 15 feet in
diameter, is ornamented by pilasters, entablature, and
windows, and is covered with a conical roof surmounted
with a gilded ball. The interior is singularly beautiful.
It forms a circular' area 60 feet in diameter, above
which, at the height of 80 feet rises a dome, from the eye
of which a lesser cupola ascends to the altitude of 74 feet.
The roof is sustained by eight piers, the space between
each of which is separated by stanchions into three com-
partments, and the circumference of the hall is spanned
by three galleries, from which entrance is gained into the
offices of the buildings. In this fabric 300 tons of iron
are used, each of the 32 ribs weighing two tons. The
frame-work to the offices is of wood, and panelled with
rough plate glass, so that they may receive fight from the
great dome. The dome itself is glazed with large pieces
of roughened plate glass of great thickness, and the small
upper domes contain glass of a yellow tint. The chief
public offices surrounding the Rotunda are appropri-
ated to the corporation officers who have to collect the
eoid dues, the factors' board-room, the weighers' society,
and to the merchants and factors. The flooring of the area,
which is sixty feet in diameter is composed of desiccated
wood, and is arranged in the form of a gigantic mariner's
compass—the needle pointing due north, to the left of
the entrance. In the centre is the city shield, the anchor,
and other devices, in brilliant colours. The prevailing
hues of the floor are dark, and light brown and white,
it the angle of the building formed by these two streets
is a circular tower, divided into three stories, 109 feet
high to the top of a gilded ball, and 22 feet in diameter
at the lowest part. The lowest story, containing the en-
trance vestibule is in the Roman-Doric style of architecture.
The wall of the tower also serves as a centre to a flight of
steps which conduct on either hand to a landing on the
first story of the building, and thence a spiral staircase
ascends up in the tower to the other stories. The first
story is of the Ionic order, with an entablature, and
is lighted by windows. The upper story, 15 feet in
diameter, is ornamented by pilasters, entablature, and
windows, and is covered with a conical roof surmounted
with a gilded ball. The interior is singularly beautiful.
It forms a circular' area 60 feet in diameter, above
which, at the height of 80 feet rises a dome, from the eye
of which a lesser cupola ascends to the altitude of 74 feet.
The roof is sustained by eight piers, the space between
each of which is separated by stanchions into three com-
partments, and the circumference of the hall is spanned
by three galleries, from which entrance is gained into the
offices of the buildings. In this fabric 300 tons of iron
are used, each of the 32 ribs weighing two tons. The
frame-work to the offices is of wood, and panelled with
rough plate glass, so that they may receive fight from the
great dome. The dome itself is glazed with large pieces
of roughened plate glass of great thickness, and the small
upper domes contain glass of a yellow tint. The chief
public offices surrounding the Rotunda are appropri-
ated to the corporation officers who have to collect the
eoid dues, the factors' board-room, the weighers' society,
and to the merchants and factors. The flooring of the area,
which is sixty feet in diameter is composed of desiccated
wood, and is arranged in the form of a gigantic mariner's
compass—the needle pointing due north, to the left of
the entrance. In the centre is the city shield, the anchor,
and other devices, in brilliant colours. The prevailing
hues of the floor are dark, and light brown and white,