The History and Antiquities of London, Westminster, Southwark, and Parts Adjacent, vol. 3
Allen, Thomas
1827
New Corn Exchange.
The principal facade ranges with the houses on the east side of ; it is made into a centre between wings. The former consists of a portico or corridor composed of fluted Doric columns from Grecian examples, raised on a continued plinth, and sustaining an entablature. The plinth is broken with flights of steps, and low windows, entrances to the vaults beneath the floor; in the entablature the triglyphs are omitted, and their place supplied by chaplets of wheat-ears instead of myrtle, as in | |
750 | the choragic monument of Thrasyllus at Athens. The cornice is charged with lion's heads at intervals, and the whole is surmounted by a blocking course; above the centre is a large pedestal crowned with a cornice, above which are the royal arms in stone, accompanied by ploughs and agricultural emblems. On the dado is inscribed
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In the wall at the back of the corridor, are lofty lintelled entrances leading to the interior of the market. The wings are in a plainer style, they are finished in antis, and are principally occupied by large windows divided in breadth by uprights, and transversely by an entablature continued from the centre, but which is made to project with the side elevations beyond the line of the former division. A singular and rather fantastic acroterium, borrowed from the works of Mr. Soane, is made the finish of the wings, the cymatium being broken in the front of it; it consists of a facade wall pierced with arched openings, crowned with a cornice also charged with lion's heads, and flanked with pedestals having arched heads relieved with chaplets. The interior of the market is just finished, the roof is sustained on entablatures resting on columns, of an order invented by the architect as characteristic of the uses of the building, having capitals composed of wheat sheaves. The whole facade is substantially built with stone; the dimensions are colossal and grand. The architect is G. Smith, esq. from whose designs the new tower of the , and School, were built. | |
In is the old Trinity house, a large brick building, occupying sides of a square. Over the front is the following inscription:
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Between and , is a large mansion of brick, at present in the occupation of Messrs. Urwick and Co. wine merchants; but formerly the residence of the patriotic alderman Beckford. | |
On the east side of is | |
Footnotes: [] Vide ante, p. 454. [] Vide ante, p. 592. |
