Theme 1: Lloyd’s Register Collection - Safeguarding Old Knowledge, and Corporate Memory
Ensuring preservation and sustainability of historic records, while fostering trust and accessibility to make the collection available worldwide.
Lloyd's Register estate records
This page is approximately a 3 minute read
About the estate records
The vast majority of records in the estate records series (LR/3) relate to the building and designing of the Lloyd’s Register Building at 71 Fenchurch, London. Now a Grade 2* listed building, it has proudly stood as the main office of Lloyd’s Register since 1901. Prior to the construction of this building Llloyd’s Register was based in White Lion court, just a short walk from Fenchurch Street. There are also records relating to other offices around the world, though these are much less comprehensive. The records include over 100 plans and designs, handwritten specifications and detailed correspondence relating to designing and refurbishing the offices.
71 Fenchurch Street
71 Fenchurch Street was designed and in part decorated by Thomas Collcutt, the result was an impressive classical stone palazzo building. Several other prominent artists were used in the interior design; Gerald Moira, Frank-Lynn Jenkins, William De Morgan and Frank Brangwyn. The initial designs were turned down as too understated, but finally a scheme of appropriate splendour was agreed in October 1898. The site was acquired in February 1898 for £66,518. The land was owned by James Dixon, a member of the General Committee, and had previously housed warehouses for the West India Dock Company. The ceiling of the General Committee, or boardroom as it was known at the time, was painted in 1903, alongside the Library. Given the artistic nature of the designs there were some delays in the construction of the offices.
Property adjacent to and surrounding 71 Fenchurch Street was first acquired in the 1920s with the purchase of the courtyard and land that originally formed part of the site of St Katherine Coleman's church, which lay vacant from 1918 onwards and was eventually demolished in 1926. Eventually, Lloyd’s Register would purchase further surrounding offices and spaces in the surrounding area as its operations and activities expanded.
The construction of the Rogers building provided the archaeologists with a rare opportunity to examine a large area within the eastern part of the Roman and medieval city. The Museum of London Archaeology Service (MoLAS) unearthed the first signs of occupation on this site dating from the first century. The archaeological excavations took place between December 1996 and June 1997.
Archaeological excavations during construction of the Rogers building
Watch the Museum of London Archaeology Service (MoLAS) unearthing the first signs of occupation on this site, dating from the first century.
What records are in this series?
- Building plans
- Specifications
- Minutes from meetings
- Correspondence
- Agreements, contracts and financial papers.
Key series within the Estate collection
- Estate collection (LR/3) and include Plans (LR/3/1)
- Agreements and contracts (LR/3/4)
- Correspondence (LR/3/7)
Key search terms or people
- Architecture
- Thomas Collcutt
- Frank Brangwynn
- Furniture
- New Sculpture movement
- Gerald Moira
- Frank-Lynn Jenkins
History of Lloyd's Register's building occupation
1833
Lloyd’s Register rents offices at No 3 White Lion Court, London.
1901
71 Fenchurch Street is completed and occupied.
1910
Alterations to 71 Fenchurch Street, including the installation of a rifle range on the roof of the building.
1909-1910
Proposed plan for 68-70 Fenchurch Street, designed by Paul Hoffman
1919
Construction of housekeeping quarters in 71 Fenchurch Street.
1925
68 to 70 Fenchurch Street, Haddon House, is initially purchased.
1960
Coronation House, adjoining the Lloyd’s Register Building on Lloyd’s Avenue is purchased.
1962
Railway place was purchased.
1972
Additional alterations to 71 Fenchurch Street and surrounding properties, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II re-opened the refurbished spaces.
2000
Rogers building completed, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II opened the building.
2019
Refurbishments to 71 Fenchurch Street begin.
2025
The Lloyd’s Register Building refurbishment is complete, Her Royal Highness Princess Ann re-opens the building.
Other resources
Internal publications such as Art and Architecture, LR Building, 250 publications.
Historic England report on 71 Fenchurch Street: Lloyd's Registry, Non-Civil Parish - 1192466
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