2-995-552 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Improved street architecture - the Promoter Life Assurance Office, Fleet-Street, [London], 1860. 'The whole of the front of the new building is constructed in Portland stone, except where inlaid with granite and marble. The capitals to the columns and piers are richly and beautifully carved, each to a different design...The ground-floor columns are three-quarter polished red granite...The central attic window is supported by slender, polished granite shafts, with richly-carved capitals; rings or panels of alternately red polished granite and green marble occupy the space over the ground-floor windows, and set forth the title and foundation of the office (1826) in sunken letters in gold...The panels under the main dentilled and carved cornice and on the upper story are formed by slabs of polished granite...The basement contains accommodation for the porter, strong rooms, and lavatories for the clerks...The ground floor is constructed on Barrett's fireproof principle...Mr. William G. Bartleet, of Pinners' Hall, Old Broad-street, is the architect; Mr. J. Willson, the builder. The carving has been executed by Mr. Forsyth, of Hampstead, under the superintendance of the architect'. From "Illustrated London News", 1860.