London Cries & Public Edifices

by John Leighton

ROYAL EXCHANGE.

The merchants used, in olden times, to meet in Lombard Street, until Sir Thomas Gresham built the first edifice here, in 1567, from the designs of Henrick, a Fleming, who, it is said, made constant journeys from London to Flanders, to obtain materials and workmen. All the stone, slate, iron, wainscot, and glass, came from Antwerp; so that the first Exchange might be considered a Dutch building. This pile was burnt down at the Fire of London, in 1666, and a second Exchange was built on the old site, by Gernan, the first stone of which was laid by Charles II., and was completed in 1669, at an expense of £59,000, and was again destroyed by fire in 1838. The present edifice occupies the same spot, of which Prince Albert laid the first stone; and it was opened, with great display, by her Majesty, Queen Victoria, in October, 1844, during the mayoralty of Sir W. Magnay. It is from a design by William Tite; the pediment, seen in the drawing, is by R. Westmacott, Jun.