Page 165 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London

THE CIT Y  163

from the coffee house where
underwriters and shipowners
used to meet to arrange marine
insurance contracts. Lloyd’s
soon became the world’s main
insurer, issuing policies on
everything from oil tankers to
Betty Grable’s legs.
The present building, by Sir
Richard Rogers, dates from 1986
and is one of the most interesting
modern buildings in London
(see p34). Its exaggerated stainless
steel external piping and high­
tech ducts echo Rogers’ forceful
Pompidou Centre in Paris.
Lloyd’s is a far more elegant
building and particularly worth
seeing floodlit at night. Nearby
is 30 St Mary Axe, otherwise
known as “the Gherkin”, one of
the most recognizable land­
marks on the London skyline.

s Guildhall
Guildhall Yard EC2. Map 15 B1.
Tel 020 7332 1313. 1 St Paul’s.
Great Hall: Open 10am–4.30pm Mon–
Sat (all year), also Sun in May–Sep (may
close for events; call ahead to check). Richard Rogers’ Lloyd’s building illuminated at night
Closed 1 Jan, 25 & 26 Dec. 8 7
∑ guildhall.cityoflondon.gov.uk including Henry Garnet, one after the Lord Mayor’s parade
St Lawrence Jewry: Open 8am–5pm of the Gunpowder Plot con­ (see p59), the prime minister
Mon–Fri (9:30am–5pm Aug). Guildhall spirators (see p26). The hall’s addresses a banquet here.
Art Gallery and amphitheatre Tel 020 15th­century walls are 1.5 m (5 ft) On the south side of Guildhall
7332 3700. Open 10am–5pm Mon– thick, though its arched stone Yard is a Wren­designed church,
Fri, noon–4pm Sun. Closed 1 Jan, roof is a 20th­century replace­ St Lawrence Jewry, while on
24–26 Dec. & for temporary ment. Overlooking the hall from the east side is the Guildhall
exhibitions. 8 7 = one end are the figures of Art Gallery. The original gallery
∑ cityoflondon.gov.uk
legendary giants Gog and here was built in 1885 to
Magog, the guardians of the house the art collection of the
Guildhall has been the City (these are postwar repro­ Corporation of London, but
administrative centre of the ductions of 18th­century models), was destroyed in World War II.
City for at least 800 years. For while statues of notable figures The present gallery houses
centuries its Great Hall was used such as Churchill and Nelson the studio collection of 20th­
for trials and many people were line the sides of the 46 m (150 ft) century artist Sir Matthew
condemned to death here, long hall. Each year, a few days Smith, portraits from the 16th
century to the present day, a
gallery of 18th­century works,
including John Singleton
Copley’s Defeat of the Floating
Batteries at Gibraltar, and
numerous Victorian works.
In 1988, the foundations of
a Roman amphitheatre were
discovered beneath the gallery.
Built in AD 70 and with a capacity
of about 6,000 spectators, the
arena would have hosted
animal hunts, executions and
gladiatorial combat. Access
to the atmospheric ruins is
The interior of the Guildhall Art Gallery through the art gallery.

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