History in Structure

Former Public Record Office

A Grade II* Listed Building in City of London, London

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Coordinates

Latitude: 51.5153 / 51°30'54"N

Longitude: -0.1104 / 0°6'37"W

OS Eastings: 531213

OS Northings: 181287

OS Grid: TQ312812

Mapcode National: GBR MB.CZ

Mapcode Global: VHGR0.15HQ

Plus Code: 9C3XGV8Q+4R

Entry Name: Former Public Record Office

Listing Date: 9 January 1970

Last Amended: 24 July 1998

Grade: II*

Source: Historic England

Source ID: 1359155

English Heritage Legacy ID: 199443

ID on this website: 101359155

Location: Holborn, City of London, London, EC4A

County: London

District: City and County of the City of London

Electoral Ward/Division: Farringdon Without

Parish: Non Civil Parish

Built-Up Area: City of London

Traditional County: Middlesex

Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): City of London

Church of England Parish: St Bride Fleet Street

Church of England Diocese: London

Tagged with: Academic library

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Description


This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 26 September 2023 to amend the name and address and to reformat the text to current standards

TQ 3181 SW
61/7

CITY OF WESTMINSTER
CHANCERY LANE, WC2
Maughan Library (King's College London)

(Formerly listed as The Public Record Office)

9.1.70

G.V.
II*

Public building. Original part to east partly within City of London, Fetter Lane q.v., 1853-55 by Sir James Pennethorne, extended with frontage to Chancery Lane 1891-96 by Sir John Taylor including re-erected C13 archway of the Rolls Chapel. Pennethorne's work of Bath stone with lead roofs; Taylor's extension of Portland stone, both rock faced with ashlar dressings. Pennethorne's building is notable for its fire proof construction with individual modular document cells built of wrought iron with shallow arched brick vaults and cast iron girders; the elevations employing Perpendicular Gothic in very functional way; the Perpendicular style was continued by Taylor in a rather more elaborated fashion.

Symmetrical front to Chancery Lane with central archway in "gatehouse" and terminal polygonal turrets with stone ogee cupolas. Symmetrical east-west range with central "gatehouse" and square tower above, and a more asymmetrical range with polygonal turrets to Fetter Lane. The Pennethorne work distinguished by the sheer mullion-buttresses articulating the fully glazed window bays finished off with depressed triangular arches over the top floor below pierced parapet and crocketed finials. Similar details to Taylor extension but with closer net mullions dividing the lights. Part of the chancel arch of the demolished C13 Rolls Chapel re-erected against the rear of the Chancery Lane block at the south east end. Important Renaissance monuments from the chapel are now in the Record Office museum.

Listing NGR: TQ3121381287

External Links

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