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Coronation House

4 Lloyd’s Avenue, EC3
Built: 1902
Architect: Barrow Emanuel (T. Collcutt as consultant)
Location: Aldgate and Fenchurch Street east
Listing: not listed

The retained facade, all that is left of Coronation House

The modern Lloyd’s Register of Shipping building, designed by Richard Rogers, rises partly on the former footprint of this building of which only the façade remains. This was mandated by the planning office, to maintain the original street wall of Lloyd’s Avenue, a particularly cohesive concentration of Edwardian classical architecture even by City standards. The stone dressing, uncharacteristically, is not of Portland stone but rather Ham Stone. While generally less impervious to London grime and weathering, this stone is of a particularly warm, pleasant colour. The ground storey is, in fact, in contrasting Portland stone but unified to the first floor by the repetition of banded pilasters that define the bays.

The 1994 addition to Lloyd’s Register of Shipping building, by Richard Rogers, rises partly on the former footprint of Coronation House, of which only the facade remains. This was mandated by the planning office, to maintain the original street wall of Lloyd’s Avenue, a particularly cohesive concentration of Edwardian classical architecture, by City standards.

Several details set this building apart from its distinguished neighbours. Most evident, is the stone dressing which, uncharacteristically, is not of Portland stone but rather Hamstone (a Somerset limestone). While generally less impervious to London grime and weathering, this stone is of a particularly warm, pleasant colour.

Stories above ground floor are clad in warmly coloured sandstone

The ground storey is, in fact, in contrasting Portland stone but unified to the first floor by the repetition of banded pilasters that define  the bays. Accenting the second floor, the windows in the wings of the building are surmounted by a mix of triangular and broken scroll pediments. The latter are particularly ornate, with console brackets and shields mounted on a strapwork background.

Ornament is concentrated in the entrance bay and the opulent intermediate storeys

The attic storey (third floor) presents another peculiarity in that the banding/rustication is expressed as a sort of wrap around bundles of triple, double and even single columns. The effect is in contrast with the more measured detailing below, appearing somewhat Mannerist. This combination extends upward to a pedimented stone frontispiece that interrupts the double mansard roof.

2 thoughts on “Coronation House”

  1. I first entered this building December the 5th 1960. My first job after school.
    The ground floor tenant was Escombe & McGrath. The travel department and was part of the P&0 shipping company
    I spent 5 years there before moving on. It had a small kiosk on the ground floor and the toilets were in the basement along with a number of passageways that were empty.
    I always felt it creepy walking along those passages…..
    My immediate boss was Capt. WAJ Everton a former soldier of WW1
    I am 78 now but my memory holds the images today like it was yesterday.
    I moved to Perth Australia 1970
    Thank you for stopping by.

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