Holborn Bars

Holborn Bars, also known as the Prudential Assurance Building is a large red terracotta Victorian building on the north side (138–142) of Holborn in Camden at the boundary of the City of London, England. The block is bounded by Holborn to the south, Brooke Street to the west, Leather Lane to the east and Beauchamp Street to the north. It is currently occupied by De Vere Venues and also the London office of English Heritage at 1 Waterhouse Square.

Not to be confused with 1–4 Holborn Bars, a Grade I listed Tudor inn complex whose restoration was funded by the Prudential Assurance Society on the south side of Holborn[1].

Prudential Assurance Building, 142 Holborn, Camden
Holborn: Waterhouse Square, 142 Holborn Bars, EC1 Waterhouse Square is an internal courtyard at the rear of the Prudential Assurance building and is named after Alfred Waterhouse, the original architect of that building. This photo was taken from under the arch in 667977 and shows the domed skylight feature.

History

Located close to the Holborn Bar city boundary of the City of London Holborn Bars was built on the site of the former Furnival's Inn building of the Inns of Chancery. It was designed in Gothic Revival style for the Prudential Assurance Society by architects initially Alfred Waterhouse and his son Paul Waterhouse who became a partner in his father's firm from 1891, and built by Holland, Hannen & Cubitts in phases between 1876[2] and 1901.[3] The interior design of the main entrance hall was completed in 1906.[4]

The building was modified between 1930 and 1932 by E. M. Joseph,[5] who introduced Art Deco features,[6] and expanded again in 1993 by EPR Architects to a floor area of 34,931 square metres.[6] Prudential moved out of the building in 1999 but retained ownership of it.[6]

Description

The building originally featured a library, restaurant, chapel, hall, rooftop promenade and a women's entrance.[6] It was electrically lit and featured hot running water.[6] The complex now encloses a courtyard, Waterhouse Square, named after the original architect.[5] The building was listed Grade II* on 3 March 1972.[5][7]

Tenants

Tenants include:

gollark: Elytra are stupidly expensive, but actually getting one doesn't require more than borrowing an elytra to copy, an eye of ender, some weapons (beds, even), and a ghast tear.
gollark: By the end portal I mean the exit portal.
gollark: We should really do something about the monopolisation of the end portal, which is necessary for renewable elytra.
gollark: It doesn't have the relay, that's why.
gollark: Is that on 1 or 2?

References
  1. Historic England. "1–4 Holborne Bars  (Grade I) (1246103)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  2. page 112, Alfred Waterhouse 1830–1905 Biography of a Practice, Colin Cunningham & Prudence Waterhouse, 1992, Oxford University Press
  3. "Holborn Bars". Skyscrpaper News. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  4. "Prudential Assurance Company head office, Holborn Bars, Holborn, London: the main entrance hall". RIBA. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  5. Historic England. "Prudential Assurance Building  (Grade II*) (1379064)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  6. "Holborn Bars". Skyscrapernews.com. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  7. Historic England. "Prudential Assurance Building (Grade II*) (1379064)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 27 June 2014.

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