The building was originally designed as a bazaar for the selling of work by jewellers, blacksmiths, capenters and artists but the enterprise failed, and it essentially became a storage facility or warehouse, used by the wealthy for storing their carriages and other precious items when they retired to their country houses ‘out of season’.
A catastrophic fire in 1874 destroyed not only most of the building but all the possessions stored there. Ironically the building had been touted as virtually fireproof owing to its iron structure but it was the collapse of the iron roof during the fire that caused so much damage. The fire took three days to extinguish. The value of the art and possessions destroyed is unknown, not least because items were under-insured owing to the building’s reputation for safety. It is estimated that, using modern values, up to £220m pounds worth of art and possessions were lost, including paintings by Sir Joshua Reynolds and JMW Turner.
The building was designed by a man called Seth Smith and built in the 1830s. It has recently been renovated and has a rooftop restaurant. I’ve not told you its name but the photo below gives you a clue! And you can always leave a comment below to check it out! Would be great to hear from you.
The Pantechnicon on Motcombe Street!
Convenient for the Star Tavern.
You’re dead right, Tom! You have perhaps sampled the rooftop restaurant?
Thanks Dave.
Very interesting as usual.
I’m tempted to try the restaurant now.
After a visit to the tavern, of course.