24-28 Lombard Street, EC3
Built: 1912
Architect: Gordon & Gunton
Listing: Grade II (1974)
As is usually the case in Lombard Street, a number of buildings and tenants have succeeded each other on this location. For instance, in 1819, this was the site of Chatteris, Whitmore, and Co (1774-1841). The current building was commissioned by Royal Insurance, which, based on an 1865 print, previously had offices at 5 Lombard Street. Interestingly, a 1957 photograph shows the signs of a Cat playing a bass or viola (which some sources believe is the reproduction of a pub sign!) and one of a King (Charles II or William III?) hanging not from this building but from the one opposite. These turn-of-the-century decorative fancies (installed at the time of Edward VII’s coronation) seem to have been swapped around with a degree of liberality.
Architecturally, the muscular quality of the Lombard Street prospect is further enhanced by energetic application of sculptural detail. The Arched ground floor with banded rustication is surmounted by a giant Ionic order and a robustly aediculated entrance whose segmental pediment-cornice is repeated above the third storey. This might perhaps have sufficed without the addition of balconies, bay windows, and pedimented lintels alternating along the façade as well as corner turrets.
Relative to the moderate size of the building this smacks of overzealous charging and the impression is not relieved by the monumentality of the allegorical statuary group above the entrance. The latter is by F. W. Doyle-Jones and represents ‘fire’ and ‘sea’ (key insurance risks) sitting at either side of a chimera. Note too the beautifully carved lion’s head below the vault of the arch, oculus, etc.
Royal Insurance (not to be confused with Royal Exchange Assurance) was founded in 1845 in Liverpool to offer damage and life policies. It eventually merged in 1996 with Sun Alliance to from RSA, which is still based in the City, on Fenchurch Street. This building now houses a Japanese bank’s London offices.
