Lloyd's shipping register

Lloyd's register is one of the great institutions of the City of London. It was founded in 1760 in the same way that Lloyd's of London began with meetings of merchants, underwriters and others associated with shipping all taking place in  Edward Lloyd's coffee house. The present building on the corner of Fenchurch Street was built in 1901 in this Edwardian baroque style

In the following 70 years Lloyd's register expanded into 4 adjacent office blocks and became a jumble of buildings. Rather than moving premises a major redevelopment took place where the facade of Coronation House was kept but the whole structure behind it was demolished. Richard Rogers,the architect, has married the old with the new and created a very interesting building. The existing outer shell had to be retained due to planner's restrictions so Rogers built two glass towers 12 and 14 storeys high with another 7 storeys of space behind the Coronation façade.

The best of the original building has been retained such as the old reception hall with its marble staircase.

This is the Rose window above the staircase which has a ship at its centre surrounded by the emblems of the UK: the English rose, the Scottish thistle, the Irish shamrock and supposedly the Welsh leek (but I can't see it).

Half way up the staircase is 'The figure of Maritime Commerce'

The staircase leads to the  general committee room.

A tapestry hanging in the style of William Morris Damask pattern ( this is a copy with the original being in the V and A museum).

The barrel vaulted ceiling  inspired by Michelangelo Sistine chapel ceiling.

The room is still used by Lloyd's Registers General advisory committee and on other formal occasions.