The Sun.
London, England, 1840-05-22 00:00:00

tvroNG EDITION%

SIGN FOR THE NEW ROY

EXCHANGE.

The following is ',MI'. 'rite's explanation of the design
Fleeted by' the Committee, and was recommended to the
c,
t of Common Council yesterday.
EXTENT AND SITE.
The total' length of thesbuildina is proposed to be 293
tioeet 6 inches, from the columns of the portico on the west
the pilasters at the cast end; the width of the portico
89 feet 6 inches; the evrerne width at the east end,
at the broadest nart, is 175 feet, and the width through
centre, from north to south, is 144 feet.
ft The building is placed in the centre between the south
°nt of the Balk and a mean line of the irregularities
presented by the houses on the south side of Cornhill ;
11,
east and west fronts arc at right angles to the centre
and of course the angle formed by the intersection
of the north and south fronts with the east and west fronts
'I
the same ; by this means the building, though not rec-
tangular, is regular on the plan.
ARRANGEMENT.
b Gresham College occupies the north-west angle of the
erthing on the principal story, and is entered from the
..

The Royal-Exchange Assurance occupies the south-
14It angle and the space over the west end of the color,-
,1
~
00 the one pair floor, End is entered front the south
O. the loggia, under the portico.
The London Assurance occupies the greatest part of the
*Outfit front on the principal story, and is entered from the
s
ssuth.
Lloyd's; fills up the remainder of the east and north fronts
~f
the piolcipal story, arid is entered in three places, viz.
er°l° the east, from the north-east corner, and from the
earth.
„ There is a small additional staircase and entrance to the
ttacipal Lecture Room of the Gresham College (which
Propose to use for the exit from the lectures only), and
" Opens into the loggia under the portico.
Ll"e Commercial Room proposed to be attached to
a and which, in a letter from Mr. Barnes of the 26th
_rebruary, I ant requested so to manage as that it might be
IPPropriaced for offices, if not eventually required for the
"hove purpose, has been accordingly placed by me on the
Ptncipal story on the north side. If not required by
Lloyd's, I should propose to convert this room into a double
isnge of ufficcs, one lighted from the street and the other
_Mtn the area of the Exchange, each office having a room
rer in u third floor: the access to these rooms would be
9' a distinct staircase and entrance on the north, for which
ttr,distinet shop must be taken. The mean width of this
lk-;oantercial Room is 39 feet, and its length 96 feet ; al-
titv*,, therefore for an 8-feet passage in tire middle, it
/rmild provide for twelve sets of offices, each 16 feet by 15 ft.
The shops and offices are very material features of any
design for this building, for under the 62d Section of the
Act for providing a Site fur the Royal Exchange, the
Gresham Committee are bound to compensate any !Arty
bolding a lease in .ny part of the Old Royal Exchange,
aaless the owner or lessee is reinstated. As regards the
"'lees, this would probably only be the value of the diffee-
etc° between the reserved rent and the actual rest, and not
mattsr of much importance ; but unless the valuable
!raciest and occupations round the Exchange are re-
Instated, the question would become a very important one,
because it would involve the goodwills of the parties. Tae
mere question of reinstatement, however, is not the only
"e, for it it is clear the revenue to be obtained from
the shops, after the expiration of present leases, must
forma very important item in any income to be derived
from this building. In order to meet these require-
°lents, and still, I hone, in no way to injure the
design, I have placed the shops or offices on a
level
with the street, round the north, south, and mist sides,
tad inasmuch as I found that in the old Royal Exchange
there were shops in three of the entrances, and as I could
very conveniently arrange a few it, the east entrance of
,MY design, I have placed six there. Let the claims,
emwever, arise as they may, with this plan now under dis-
ea,sion there could be no difficulty in meeting them all,
far tie! area cf all the shops and offices of all descriptions
in the 7round-floor of the old Exchange amounted to
6,106 feet only, whereas in this Plan the shops and offices
Provided; exclusive of the part appropriated to Lloyd's, to
the Gresham College, the London Assurance, and the
Royal Exchange Assurance, exceeds this quantity by
1,087 feet, the total being 9,217 feet. The increased
value of all this, and the exact nature of the accommoda-
ticm, will, however, be further explained under other heads
ti this descriptive particular.
ACCOMMODATION.
GhESHAM COLLEGE.—lnconsidering this department of
the building-, I was placed in considerable difficulty, trot
Only from the total absence of instructions, but because 1
found, as well amongst the Committee (when I had the
honour of attending them) as in society, very considerable
'ifferences of opinion on the subject.
After much reflection I have, however, arranged what
I hope will be considered a complete establishment for
roost purposes, and it is as follows :
On the north side of the Exchange, about 45 feet from
the west end, is an entrace with a small hall and staircase.
In this hall a porter would be placed, who would prevent
the admiision of improper persons.
The entrance doorway is large, and over it is placed a
Shield containing the arms of Sir Tho.nas Greslinni. This
entrance and hall is also quite distinct, and, like all the
other parts or distinct portions of this design, it is sepa-
rated by party-walls.
On the first landing of the staircase is a porter's room,
which would also serve for umbrellas, coats, or cloaks.
On the one-pair or principal floor is a Lecture Room
tr theatre, of a horse-shoe form, the diameter being 46
feet
-1 6 inches by 36 feet. To this is added a Library, or
/e7!r Lecture Room, 25 feet by 24 feet ; a Lecturer's or
pluratian's Room, 19 feet by 15 feet 6 inches ; Apparatus
`'.(lor n, 16 feet 3 inches by 11 feet, with a water closet and
washing room ; and two rooms over the Librarian's and
Apparatus Rooms for some resident servant.
The Theatre would seat 259 persons on the filor, and
200 more might be conveniently seated in the gallery. It
is probable, however, that for many lectures of continuous
eeurses this might be too much, but for some it might be
too little. I have therefore placed the Library at the
uaek of the Theatre, by which, in the latter case, the
accommodation might he increased, or in the former
it might he sufficient in itself for such purposes.
The result, therefore is this, that for an auditory
of 40 or so persons, the Library would be sufficient ;
beyond that number and up to 450 the Theatre would be
the proper place : if a larger number were expected, the
Partition dividing the Library from the Theatre might be
removed (as is shown in the plan) by sliding it into the
wall, when by removing the lecture table a little further
O'tek, 50 persons more might be accommodated. Beyond
is extent of 500 persons it is probably undesirable to
Carry it further.
If, however, I have erred altogether and have provided
tOO much, it is easy to diminish it, or if it is determined to
abandon this site for this purisose, the space so complete
tad isolated would middy let by itself, or might be corn-
iiwd with the unappropriated offices in the north-west
immediately under the Theatre.
It remains to be added that I have also provided ample
vault_room in the basement of this establishment. and a
leeond staircase connected with the theatre, and only in-
tended to be used on a crowded occasion for the dismissal
of to large an audience as 400 or 500 persons, and fur a
Private approach or retreat for the lecturer.
Royer, EXCHANGE ASiURANCE establishment in
the old building occupied apartments iu the Mezzanine,
gad tan the one-pair floor. The net area being 5,235
exclusive of passages, staircases, water-closets,
kitchen, and rooms in the roof.
have had many meetings with the Governor on the
-4"jeet, and at length I received, so late as the 4th inst.,
alist of the rooms, of which I have attached a copy to
description.
The total area in this is 6,254 feet, but omitting the
*to
te-roms e and kitchen for the sake of comparison, the
quantity is 5,894. My plan gives this so nearly, and
tiiet dimensions of the rooms also correspond so generally
with the requirements, that I need not occupy the time
of the Committee with any further description ; but in nd-
'
~<on I have added what appears to me obviously neces-
sary, viz., strong-rooms and cellars in the basement.
As the heights of the flora of this part of the building
differ in some respects from the general section, I bog to
add them hers, and they are as follows, viz. :
The ground-floor is 2 feet 6 inches above the level of
the flour of the Exchange, and 6 feet above the street ;
under this is a lower ground-story, the height being ten
feet, with vaultsunder.
The ground-floor will be 13 feet high, the Mezzanine 10
feet, the one-pair floor 18 feet ; except where there are
rooms over, when this will be 13 feet.
LONDON ASSURANCE.-1 attach a copy of the instruc-
tions received from this Company to my letter of the 6th
March, addressed to Mr. Barnes. The total quantity of
space required is 5,553 feet, exclusive of waiting rooms,
water-closets, &e. ; as some of the rooms seemed extrava-
gant in size, I have arranged them somewhat less, and
the Company express themselves satisfied with my dimen-
sions, the total being 4,34 feet.
LLoyo's.—With regard to this very important establish-
ment, I beg a reference to my letter to Mr. Barnes of the
6th instant, to which I attached a copy of the new instruc-
tions forwarded by their architect. The total quantity of
'Pace occupied in the old Exchange by this Company ox-
elusive of staircases, was 7,914 feet. The space now re-
quired is 13,781 feet, exclusive of passages, and staircases,
Water-closets, urinals, &c., but this includes the Com-
mercial Room, which is 4.050 feet. The dimensions of the
several apartments in my plan are very nearly consistent
With tl.eir requirements, and the total result the same.
The arran,ement of the rooms is best understood by a
reference to the plan of the one-pair floor, and I believe
it to be quite in accordance with the wishes of the
o
c mmi:
ttee.
sIiOYS.—I propose that each shop shall have a cellar
:claw, and, with very few exceptions, a Mezzanine over.
'nue average height o the shops will be 14 feet, the base-
riletn floor 12 feet, and the Mezzanine 10 feet. Each
80p will he secured by party'-walls, and roofed with iron
ku'Tama and arches under the one-pair floor. The water-
l'''st2ts will be in the basements : there will be a separate flue
.4 each shop, and room for the fire-places; and I propose
that each shop and room shall be warmed by an open or
•, .nott, s cove of the same pattern.
The staircases will be circular and of cast iron.
Staircases of this kind, though not much known here,
'l4'o been extensively used in Paris, and are admirably
adapted for such purposes. I have paid every attention to
the mode of lighting the deeper shops, and I hope 1 have
stl'eveded in obviating all reasonable apprehension on that
1414ect. The shops without Mezzanines are, one in the
smith front, rnse in the north front, arid four in the eastern
etttlance to the Exchange ; in the area, in the latter case,
they are left out, to allow of light being obtained over the
kn°Pg to the hack parts of the ether premises.
EXCHANGE.—The Exchange is entered from four
arched openings in the centre of each side ; the form is a
I;),,trallelograrn, ai,d the inner area exactly a double square.
[his form has many advantages, both in point of conveni-
ence and elegance over the old form, and it is also better
zdanted to the shape of the ground.
A 9 to the level 19f the floor of the Exchance, I have
heard many cptnions ; but it appears to me to be of the
greatest importance that it should be as nearly level with
the Ntreet as possible.
From the natural fall of the ground, however, which is