The Hall was demolished in 1856 and a new building erected according to Angell’s designs. Like many contemporary buildings in the City, it was Italian Renaissance in style and The Times dubbed it ‘one of the finest of which the City can boast’. The main entrance remained on Mincing Lane behind an imposing facade and the Livery Hall was on the first floor. Still oriented north - south, the building now took up most of the site and formed a single, though picturesque, block rather than being arranged around internal courtyards. The wealth of the Company was reflected in its sumptuous interiors, with ornate polychromed and gilded plasterwork and lavish use of polished granite and marble. The new Hall was opened by His Royal Highness ABOVE: Watercolour of the entrance to the Victorian Hall, 1867-1872 BELOW: Watercolour plan of the ground floor of the new Hall
Prince Albert, the Prince Consort, in 1860 who was presented with the Honorary Livery of the Company on the same day. Angela Burdett-Coutts, a keen proponent of social housing and George Peabody, the American philanthropist were notable Honorary Clothworkers during this period. The most opulent of any of the six Clothworkers’ Halls, the dignified appearance of the Victorian Hall caught the attention of ‘The Builder’, which printed an illustrated feature article in December 1916. The elevation to Mincing Lane in particular was considered ‘one of the best examples of the architectural treatment of the period.’ Despite an idea that the Hall be rebuilt in 1924 as part of a commercial office development, the Victorian Hall continued to serve the Company until World War Two struck; on the night of 10-11 May 1941, Clothworkers’ Hall was completely destroyed by enemy action. Fortunately no-one was killed or seriously injured at the Hall, although almost all the furniture and interiors were destroyed with the exception of a coat of arms, a small clock
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ABOVE: Photograph of the Grand Staircase in the fifth Hall, c1939
and four carved murals depicting the attributes of the Company – Loyalty,
BELOW: The Master and Clerk inspecting the bombed-out ruins in 1941
the archives and some paintings – withstood the flames, although no-one
Integrity, Industry and Charity. The basement vaults – and consequently dared open the strongroom doors until five days after the fires were extinguished. The Company’s plate also survived. Fortuitously, many pieces were on loan in America and the remainder had been evacuated south of the river. As the clear-up operation began, the Company took up business residence first at Great Tower Street, in the offices of Christ’s Hospital Foundation, and later 48 Fenchurch Street (a Company property). Company meetings and functions were held at Vintners’ Hall although other Livery Companies generously lent their Halls on occasion. It was seventeen years before the Company returned (to a new) home. 19