The Hop Exchange
Date1850-1900
Where depictedLondon, Uk
MediumPaper, card
DimensionsObject/Work: 226 x 297 mm
ClassificationsArtworks/Commemorations/Photographs
Terms
Object numberP01671
DescriptionIllustration of the The Hop Exchange on Southwark Street. The Hop Exchange is certainly a very grand building - the grandest Victorian commercial building in Southwark and without doubt a matchless asset - but ironically its use had much less to do with the hop trade than its founders intended. It was built as a speculation under the name of the Hop and Malt Exchange in 1866-67, and was designed by R.H.Moore. It was intended to comprise an ornate trading floor and surrounding offices. But the hop factors and hop merchants all had their own premises, and did not need an exchange. Consequently, the building was divided up for general office use and for long was known as Central Buildings. The old name has been revived in recent years.
The Hop Exchange suffered a fire on October 20th, 1920, which destroyed the original two upper storeys. The present building is very impressive, but the original was far grander, looking like a portion of the Colosseum.
On View
Not on viewCollections
1700-1799
