DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1212#0384
THE ROYAL EXCHANGE. 271
The one pair or principal floor of the building contains
four suites of apartments, in which, besides Lloyds, are the
offices of the Royal Exchange Assurance, and the London
Assurance Companies. The ground floor of the Exchange
is chiefly devoted to shops and offices, separated from each
other by party walls and brick arches of great strength,
precautions so well calculated for preventing the spread
of fire, that it is almost impossible that the Royal Ex-
change can be a third time the scene of a destructive con-
flagration.
On the frieze of the portico a Lathi inscription records
the foundation of the first structure in the thirteenth year
of Queen Elizabeth, and its restoration in the seventh year
of Queen Victoria. In the centre of the key-stones of the
three great arches appear the merchant's mark of Gres-
ham; and on the key-stones of the side arches are
sculptured the arms of the merchant adventurers of Iris
time, and the staple of Calais. North and south of the
portico, and in the attic, are the civic emblems,—the
sword and the mace, &c; and in the lower panels, man-
tles, on which are inscribed the initials of Queens Eliza-
beth and Victoria. Above the three centre arches on the
south side arc the armorial bearings of Gresham, the City,
and the Mercers' Company; which arms also embellish
the east end of the entablature. Over the three centre
arches of the north front are the following inscriptions;—
the centre one in ancient French is the motto of Sir
Thomas Gresham, Fortun a my; on the right side the
city motto, Domine dirige nos; and on the left side that
of the Mercers' Company, Honor Deo. At the western
end of the Exchange the tympanun of the pediment is
enriched with allegorical representations of Commerce, de-
signed by Sir Richard Westmacott. Over the principal
figure appears the following inscription—" The earth is
the Lord's, and the fullness thereof."
The interior of the Royal Exchange realizes what might
be expected from its attractive external. The ground
floor is formed by Doric columns and rusticated arches.
The one pair or principal floor of the building contains
four suites of apartments, in which, besides Lloyds, are the
offices of the Royal Exchange Assurance, and the London
Assurance Companies. The ground floor of the Exchange
is chiefly devoted to shops and offices, separated from each
other by party walls and brick arches of great strength,
precautions so well calculated for preventing the spread
of fire, that it is almost impossible that the Royal Ex-
change can be a third time the scene of a destructive con-
flagration.
On the frieze of the portico a Lathi inscription records
the foundation of the first structure in the thirteenth year
of Queen Elizabeth, and its restoration in the seventh year
of Queen Victoria. In the centre of the key-stones of the
three great arches appear the merchant's mark of Gres-
ham; and on the key-stones of the side arches are
sculptured the arms of the merchant adventurers of Iris
time, and the staple of Calais. North and south of the
portico, and in the attic, are the civic emblems,—the
sword and the mace, &c; and in the lower panels, man-
tles, on which are inscribed the initials of Queens Eliza-
beth and Victoria. Above the three centre arches on the
south side arc the armorial bearings of Gresham, the City,
and the Mercers' Company; which arms also embellish
the east end of the entablature. Over the three centre
arches of the north front are the following inscriptions;—
the centre one in ancient French is the motto of Sir
Thomas Gresham, Fortun a my; on the right side the
city motto, Domine dirige nos; and on the left side that
of the Mercers' Company, Honor Deo. At the western
end of the Exchange the tympanun of the pediment is
enriched with allegorical representations of Commerce, de-
signed by Sir Richard Westmacott. Over the principal
figure appears the following inscription—" The earth is
the Lord's, and the fullness thereof."
The interior of the Royal Exchange realizes what might
be expected from its attractive external. The ground
floor is formed by Doric columns and rusticated arches.