Taking account of the past
Country Life UK|December 06, 2023
A late-Victorian masterpiece in the heart of the City has been expanded and augmented with unusual discernment. Steven Brindle visits after its most recent refurbishment 
Steven Brindle
Taking account of the past

Chartered Accountants' Hall, No 1, Moorgate Place, London EC2 The Livery Hall of the Company of Chartered Accountants and the headquarters of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

LONDON, especially the City of London, must be one of the best places in the world for the simple pleasures of looking up to enjoy the variety and richness of the street architecture. It is also full of surprises. Many people, turning off Moorgate into Great Swan Alley, must have been momentarily stopped in their tracks by the extraordinary building that stands here (Fig 1). This is Accountants' Hall, home of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), which is also the Livery Hall of the Company of Chartered Accountants, a City Livery Company. Built in 1890-93, it was the masterpiece of John Belcher (1841-1913), who was one of the most original of late-Victorian architects.

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