National Westminster Bank in Trafalgar Square
More information
Title
National Westminster Bank in Trafalgar Square
National Westminster Bank in Trafalgar Square
Reference
SC_PHL_01_537_73_9781 (Collage 141185)
Date
Collection
London Metropolitan Archives: LCC Photograph Library
Description
Looking south from Trafalgar Square to Spring Gardens, City of Westminster. Spring Gardens is named after the gardens that stood there in the time of Elizabeth I. These featured a decorative fountain that was set in motion by passers-by treading on hidden machinery. A branch of National Westminster Bank at 66 Trafalgar Square is encased by scaffolding. Built in 1871 by F. W. Porter, of Portland Stone and polished red granite as The Union Bank of London. Founded in 1839, it merged in 1902 to form Union of London and Smith's Bank. The building is now a pub and Grade II* listed, number 1217744. To the left is number 62-65, a five-storey building with an attic and, above the ground floor shop front, a sign for Canadian Pacific. Faced in Portland Stone with a clocktower, and with bow windows to the first and second floors. Between the attic windows are bas reliefs. Constructed as the London offices of The Canadian Pacific Railway Company and its affiliated steamship line. The ground-floor shop is now a cafe, and above are apartments. On the right across Spring Gardens is number 34 Cockspur Street. From the seventeenth century this was the site of The Red Lion inn which was demolished in 1886. A Classical three-storey building with a double attic and on the corner, a clock on the roof parapet. The ground floor is 'Garners Steak House'. In 1978 Garners Steak Houses achieved notoriety when the management turned down a demand from the Transport and General Workers Union for union recognition. Eighty four strikers were immediately sacked. The strike was seen as an important campaign to improve the wages and conditions of migrant workers in the catering industry. This is now a bar and hotel. Pedestrians are walking across a Zebra Crossing.
Looking south from Trafalgar Square to Spring Gardens, City of Westminster. Spring Gardens is named after the gardens that stood there in the time of Elizabeth I. These featured a decorative fountain that was set in motion by passers-by treading on hidden machinery. A branch of National Westminster Bank at 66 Trafalgar Square is encased by scaffolding. Built in 1871 by F. W. Porter, of Portland Stone and polished red granite as The Union Bank of London. Founded in 1839, it merged in 1902 to form Union of London and Smith's Bank. The building is now a pub and Grade II* listed, number 1217744. To the left is number 62-65, a five-storey building with an attic and, above the ground floor shop front, a sign for Canadian Pacific. Faced in Portland Stone with a clocktower, and with bow windows to the first and second floors. Between the attic windows are bas reliefs. Constructed as the London offices of The Canadian Pacific Railway Company and its affiliated steamship line. The ground-floor shop is now a cafe, and above are apartments. On the right across Spring Gardens is number 34 Cockspur Street. From the seventeenth century this was the site of The Red Lion inn which was demolished in 1886. A Classical three-storey building with a double attic and on the corner, a clock on the roof parapet. The ground floor is 'Garners Steak House'. In 1978 Garners Steak Houses achieved notoriety when the management turned down a demand from the Transport and General Workers Union for union recognition. Eighty four strikers were immediately sacked. The strike was seen as an important campaign to improve the wages and conditions of migrant workers in the catering industry. This is now a bar and hotel. Pedestrians are walking across a Zebra Crossing.
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