ABSTRACT
The Royal Exchange was founded by Sir Thomas Gresham during the years 1564-68.1 It was designed as a trading centre at the heart of the City, a place where merchants of many nationalities, handling commodities of many kinds, could transact their business. This included the exchange of credit, the negotiation of loans, the sharing of commercial risk, and the arrangement of transport and cargo space. It was both the origin of the Stock Exchange and England's first shopping mall. Stow tells us that there were 120 shops, or 'pawns', 'richly furnished with all sorts of the finest wares in the city',2 selling such items as armour, drugs, books, glass, silk, lace, jewellery and furs.Two engravings by Frans Hogenberg are the earliest depictions of the original structure, from which it can be seen that Gresham intended to adorn the inside of the courtyard with a large amount of figural sculpture (Plate 5a & b).The site has never altered. It occupies the triangular block bounded byThreadneedle Street to the North and Cornhill to the South. It is close to the Mansion House and the Stock Exchange and next door to the Bank of England, and it looks straight up Cheapside to St. Paul's Cathedral.
