Drapers' Hall, London

Drapers' Hall
Middlesex
The entrance to Drapers' Hall
Type:	Livery hall
Location
Grid reference:	TQ32888130
Location:	51°30’54"N, 0°5’11"W
City:	London
History
Address:	Throgmorton Street
	Built 1772
	Livery hall
Information
Owned by:	The Worshipful Company of Drapers

Drapers' Hall is the livery hall of the Worshipful Company of Drapers, one of the privileged livery companies of the City of London. It stands in Throgmorton Street, near London Wall. It is today the headquarters of the Drapers' Company, and the location of its dinner, and is a venue for hire.

History

The site was originally that the Austine Friars, but after the dissolution of the monasteries, the friary was acquired by Thomas Cromwell, the chief adviser to King Henry VIII, and here he built his London mansion. In 1540 though, Cromwell fell out of favour and was executed, his property forfeit to the King. In 1543 therefore the Drapers' Company was able to buy the site to build its guildhall. It has owned it ever since.

The building was destroyed in the Great Fire of London and rebuilt to designs by Edward Jarman. After another fire in 1772, it was rebuilt again. This time the architect was John Gorham. Further extensive alterations were made by Herbert Williams in 1866-70. The hall today includes No 29 Austin Friars.

The hall survived the Blitz during the Second World War.

Structure

The hall is largely of the 19th century following the alterations of that period, it is noted to include earlier fabric.. It has three separate frontage buildings: at the eastern end a stone façade of storeys with mansard; a Baroque stone façade of two major storeys; and on Throgmorton Street are the main storeys with shops with offices above. The Archway over Throgmorton Avenue has an ornate four-storey rear elevation with stone friezes. This building incorporates fine seventeenth century style entrance doorway of carved Portland stone with two large male figures carrying full entablature with pulvinated frieze. The return elevation to Throgmorton Avenue includes red brick staircase wing, dated 1898 with stone windows and giant segmental pediment; stuccoed block with blank round-head recesses and modillion cornice with blocking course

Internally the hall has a large, mid-nineteenth century courtyard in distinguished classical style.

The hall includes four finely decorated main rooms used for the company's functions. The largest room is the Livery Hall, which can accommodate up to 276 guests for dinner. These rooms are also available for hire

On film

The interiors and have often been used for film locations, including:

• The King's Speech;
• GoldenEye,
• The Lost Prince
• Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London.

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Drapers' Hall, London)

• The Worshipful Company of Drapers
• The Livery Companies of the City of London