Description

TQ 3181 SW CHANCERY LANE WC2
(west side)
1900/7/63
No. 114 (former Law Insurance
Office) (including No.16 BELL
Yard)
26.1.70

GV II*

The former offices of the Law Fire Insurance Company. 1858-9
by Thomas Bellamy, extended to Bell Yard by him in 1874-6.
Portland stone facades with brick internal walls, presumably
incorporating some iron. Rectangular plan with two central
lightwells. Three storeys and basement, with inserted
mezzanine to ground-floor of No. 114. Rusticated and battered
stone facade to Chancery Lane is three windows wide, with
central engaged Doric portico, corniced first-floor windows in
architraves, with band to set-back upper floor under heavy
moulded cornice and parapet. Sash windows and double panelled
door under top light. The original rear facade survives in
part within the lightwell. It has three round-topped glazed
arches, corniced first floor windows in architrave surrounds
and a parapet topped by urns. The name 'RE INSURANCE OFFICE'
survives. Present facade to Bell Yard also of three bays, the
ground floor with enriched, round-arched windows, the doorway
now disused. In spandrels motifs of a fireman's helmet and
axes, between rosettes. Short return screens with pilasters
rise each side to bracketed cornice under first floor. First
floor windows have sashes with glazing bars under heavy
console brackets and within moulded architraves. Second floor
with architraved windows and rosettes under modillion eaves
cornice.

The interior remains impressive. The ground-floor of No. 114
Chancery Lane has been subdivided; heavy cornices survive on
the mezzanine. Fine stair with sinuous curving handrail and an
iron balustrade of Ionic columns rises to the top. (Historic)
first floor landing with screen of huge Ionic columns (whose
bases appear on lower floors) and balustrade in antis between
Ionic pilasters. Trabeated ceiling. Board room with fireplace,
trebeated ceiling and modillion cornice. No. 16 Bell Yard with
stair to side: a straight flight with curly iron balustrade
rises to first floor, whilst to the upper floor the stair has
timber balusters with heavy fluted newels.

Listing NGR: TQ3113381220

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17550242

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds: Cotswolds Pt. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)