London Street improvements: Lewis and Allenby’s silk warehouse in Conduit-street. James Murray, architect. Lucas Brothers, builders. Source: the 1866 Illustrated London News. [Click on image to enlarge it ]
“Among the noticeable facts of the present day is that of the marvellous improvement in the street architecture of the metropolis. On all sides we now see springing up buildings for commercial purposes, such as a few years ago were not dreamt of, exoept for the palatial clubs of Pall-mall. Wherever the requirements of business or private enterprise demand reconstruction of premises the improvement most striking. In some parts of the City streets are being almost entirely rebuilt in the most sumptuous and solid manner. At the West-End, also, the same spirit of progress is evident, and a remarkable example of the kind . . . [a] noble building has been erected by the well-known firm of silk-mercers, Messrs. Lewis and Allen by, in order to meet the growing requirements of their business. The lower portion is devoted entirely to business purposes. The upper part contains a commodious library and sitting and sleeping rooms for their large staff of assistants. Throughout, the most recent improvements have been adopted. The front of the building is entirely of stone. The columns and cornice of the lower portion are of polished Aberdeen granite. The architecture is of the purest Italian style, and is from the designs of Mr. James Murray, the architect of the Palace Hotel and many of onr new large buildings. The builders were Messrs. Lucas Brothers. This block of buildings covers the area of the old Conduit-street houses, and extends far back behind the Regent-street houses into Burlington-mews.”
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Bibliography
“London Street improvements: Lewis and Allenby’s silk warehouse in Conduit-street.” Illustrated London News. 48 (14 April 1866): 360. 369. Hathi Trust Digital Library version of a copy in the University of Michigan Library. Web. 23 December 2015.
Last modified 23 December 2015