Royal Exchange (London)

The Royal Exchange is a building in the City of London, between Cornhill and Threadneedle Street location. At this location, the first stock exchange was established in the city, since 2001 it houses a shopping mall with exclusive stores like Hermès or Tiffany.

History

1565 Thomas Gresham had the idea to build in London a stock exchange in order to facilitate trade. He took over the construction costs, while the Corporation of London and the Guild of Drapers presented the triangular grounds. The shape of the building was inspired by the stock exchange in Antwerp, a Flemish architect took over the construction management. Queen Elizabeth I opened the Royal Exchange on January 23, 1571st In the 17th century had stock traders because of their boorish behavior not allowed in the building and therefore acted in buildings in the area, such as in Jonathan 's Coffee - House.

Gresham's original building was destroyed in the 1666 Great Fire of London. It was decided that the Royal Exchange on the same site rebuild. Responsible architect was Edward Jarman, Charles II laid the foundation stone and Samuel Pepys described the event in his diary. 1669 could the trade be resumed. 1774 Lloyd's moved into premises in the building. There again, a fire broke out in 1838 and the Royal Exchange burnt down for the second time in full. Reconstruction began immediately, with Prince Albert laid the foundation stone. William Tite created the building in the classical style. The opening took place on October 28, 1844 by Queen Victoria, but the trade was resumed on 1 January 1845.

Lloyd's moved into its own building at 1928 and 1939 came the trade because of the Second World War to a complete standstill. During the war the building was undamaged. From 1953 to 1959, the theater took advantage of the courtyard. 1982 fed the London International Financial Futures Exchange Futures and Options Exchange, which was taken twenty years later by Euro Next. In 2001 the building was renovated.