East India House
Encyclopedia
East India House in Leadenhall Street
in the City of London
in England
was the headquarters of the British East India Company
. It was built on the foundations of the Elizabethan mansion Craven House, the London residence of Sir William Craven, Lord Mayor of London
, to designs by the merchant and amateur architect Theodore JacobsenThe professional on the site was John James, and completed in 1729. Much of British India was governed from here until the British government took control of the Company's possessions in India on November 1, 1858.
The exterior as Jacobsen originally designed it is known from a detailed wash drawing by Samuel Wale
, ca 1760. Its five-bays were three storeys high, with an attic storey disguised behind the cornice balustrade. A giant order of Doric pilasters
under an academically correct frieze of triglyph
s demonstrated the East India Company's soundness and seriousness of purpose: the Directors' "aim was resolutely down to earth— to inspire confidence and impress the shareholders." The structure was unexpectedly deep, affording large meeting rooms and Directors' offices, as well as a hall, a courtyard and a garden, all of which could serve for receptions. The Directors' Court Room featured a marble chimneypiece with bearded term figures that supported the mantel shelf and an overmantel bas-relief panel, Britannia Receiving the Riches of the East, under a pediment, the work of Michael Rysbrack (1728–30). In the Directors' Court Room, six canvases by George Lambert appropriately illustrated the East India Company's main "factories": St. Helena, Cape Town
, Fort William, Calcutta, Bombay, Madras and Tellicherry; East Indiamen
in the foregrounds were painted by the marine artist Samuel Scott. Carvings in the interiors were carried out by John Boson
.
An oval ceiling painting for the Revenue Committee Room, The East Offering Its Riches To Britannia, was painted by a little-known Greek artist Spiridone Roma in 1778.
With the growth of the East India Company, additional space was required, and adjoining structures to either side were purchased and pulled down; East India House was extended and refaced to designs commissioned, after some canvassing among John Soane
and George Dance
, from Henry Holland
, though the Company's Surveyor, architect Richard Jupp
, insisted in overseeing construction. Work began in 1796. After Jupp's sudden death in April 1799, the construction was completed by Henry Holland. The Company's museum was housed in one extension, the library (illustration, left) in the other.
The building was put up for sale in 1858 and demolished in 1861; the site is now occupied by the Lloyd's building
. Some of its fittings, art collection and furniture were moved to India House
.
Leadenhall Street
Leadenhall Street is a street in the City of London, formerly part of the A11. It runs east from Cornhill to Aldgate, and west vice-versa. Aldgate Pump is at the junction with Aldgate...
in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
was the headquarters of the British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
. It was built on the foundations of the Elizabethan mansion Craven House, the London residence of Sir William Craven, Lord Mayor of London
William Craven (Lord Mayor of London)
Sir William Craven was an English merchant, Lord Mayor of London in 1610 . It has been suggested that the story of Dick Whittington is based on Craven's career, and he is sometime referred to as "Aptrick's Dick Whittington".-Life:He was the second son of William Craven and Beatrix, daughter of...
, to designs by the merchant and amateur architect Theodore JacobsenThe professional on the site was John James, and completed in 1729. Much of British India was governed from here until the British government took control of the Company's possessions in India on November 1, 1858.
The exterior as Jacobsen originally designed it is known from a detailed wash drawing by Samuel Wale
Samuel Wale
Samuel Wale was an English historical painter and book illustrator.-Life:He is said to have been born at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. He was first trained in the art of engraving on silver plate. He then studied drawing under Francis Hayman at the St. Martin's Lane academy...
, ca 1760. Its five-bays were three storeys high, with an attic storey disguised behind the cornice balustrade. A giant order of Doric pilasters
Doric order
The Doric order was one of the three orders or organizational systems of ancient Greek or classical architecture; the other two canonical orders were the Ionic and the Corinthian.-History:...
under an academically correct frieze of triglyph
Triglyph
Triglyph is an architectural term for the vertically channeled tablets of the Doric frieze, so called because of the angular channels in them, two perfect and one divided, the two chamfered angles or hemiglyphs being reckoned as one. The square recessed spaces between the triglyphs on a Doric...
s demonstrated the East India Company's soundness and seriousness of purpose: the Directors' "aim was resolutely down to earth— to inspire confidence and impress the shareholders." The structure was unexpectedly deep, affording large meeting rooms and Directors' offices, as well as a hall, a courtyard and a garden, all of which could serve for receptions. The Directors' Court Room featured a marble chimneypiece with bearded term figures that supported the mantel shelf and an overmantel bas-relief panel, Britannia Receiving the Riches of the East, under a pediment, the work of Michael Rysbrack (1728–30). In the Directors' Court Room, six canvases by George Lambert appropriately illustrated the East India Company's main "factories": St. Helena, Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, Fort William, Calcutta, Bombay, Madras and Tellicherry; East Indiamen
East Indiamen
An East Indiaman was a ship operating under charter or license to any of the East India Companies of the major European trading powers of the 17th through the 19th centuries...
in the foregrounds were painted by the marine artist Samuel Scott. Carvings in the interiors were carried out by John Boson
John Boson
John Boson was a cabinet maker and carver whose work is associated with that of William Kent. It is said that if he had not died at such a relatively young age then his place would have been assured in the history of furniture making in the United Kingdom...
.
An oval ceiling painting for the Revenue Committee Room, The East Offering Its Riches To Britannia, was painted by a little-known Greek artist Spiridone Roma in 1778.
With the growth of the East India Company, additional space was required, and adjoining structures to either side were purchased and pulled down; East India House was extended and refaced to designs commissioned, after some canvassing among John Soane
John Soane
Sir John Soane, RA was an English architect who specialised in the Neo-Classical style. His architectural works are distinguished by their clean lines, massing of simple form, decisive detailing, careful proportions and skilful use of light sources...
and George Dance
George Dance
George Dance may refer to:* George Dance the Elder, English architect* George Dance the Younger, English architect, son of George Dance the Elder* George Dance , Canadian politician* George Dance , English lyricist and librettist...
, from Henry Holland
Henry Holland (architect)
Henry Holland was an architect to the English nobility. Born in Fulham, London, his father also Henry ran a building firm and he built several of Capability Brown's buildings, although Henry would have learnt a lot from his father about the practicalities of construction it was under Brown that he...
, though the Company's Surveyor, architect Richard Jupp
Richard Jupp
Richard Jupp was an 18th century English architect, particularly associated with buildings in and around London.He served for many years Richard Jupp (1728 – 17 April 1799) was an 18th century English architect, particularly associated with buildings in and around London.He served for many years...
, insisted in overseeing construction. Work began in 1796. After Jupp's sudden death in April 1799, the construction was completed by Henry Holland. The Company's museum was housed in one extension, the library (illustration, left) in the other.
The building was put up for sale in 1858 and demolished in 1861; the site is now occupied by the Lloyd's building
Lloyd's building
The Lloyd's building is the home of the insurance institution Lloyd's of London, and is located at 1, Lime Street, in the City of London, England.-Design:...
. Some of its fittings, art collection and furniture were moved to India House
India House (Indian High Commission in London)
India House is the seat of the Indian High Commission in London. Located at Aldwych, the is situated between Bush House and what was Marconi House . It faces both the London School of Economics and King's College London. Proposed in 1925 by the Indian High Commissioner Sir Atul Chatterjee, the...
.