Albert Buildings
| Albert Buildings | |
|---|---|
 Albert Buildings | |
 Interactive map of the Albert Buildings area | |
General information | |
| Type | Office |
Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Location | London, England |
| Coordinates | 51°30′45″N 0°05′35″W / 51.512449°N 0.092951°W |
Completed | 1871 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | John Whichcord Jr. |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
Official name | Albert Buildings |
| Designated | 10 November 1977 |
| Reference no. | 1079140 |
The Albert Buildings is a Grade II listed Victorian office block that stands on the corner of Queen Victoria Street and Cannon Street in the City of London.[1]
History
[edit]The block was constructed in 1871 following the establishment of Queen Victoria Street, a cut-through from the Victoria Embankment to the Bank of England.[1][2] It was designed by Frederic J Ward.[3][4]
The restaurant Sweetings, sometimes claimed to be the oldest fish and oyster shop in London,[5] have their premises in the building at 38 Queen Victoria Street.[6] The restaurant moved from their original location in Islington in 1889.[7][8]
In 2026, Emrys Architects were given permission to redevelop the block while maintaining its historic facade.[9][10]
Design
[edit]The building occupies a triangular site on Queen Victoria Street. Built of painted stone, it employs a Gothic Revival style variously described as French, English and Italian in its inspiration. The facades present stacked arcades, banded with multiple cornices and corbel tables.
The Building News described it as "‘the sort of pretentious Mediaeval against which the “Queen Anne” revival is intended as a protest".[4] The building was however awarded Grade II listed status in 1977 for its architectural interest.[1]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "Albert Buildings, Non Civil Parish - 1079140 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
- ↑ Weinreb, Ben; Hibbert, Christopher, eds. (1995). The London encyclopaedia (Rev. ed.). London: Macmillan. p. 631. ISBN 978-0-333-57688-5.
- ↑ MOLA (2017). "Archaeology at Bloomburg" (PDF). assets.bbhub.io. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
- 1 2 Bradley, Simon; Pevsner, Nikolaus, eds. (2002). The City of London (1. publ. by Yale Univ. Press ed.). Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. p. 586. ISBN 978-0-300-09624-8.
- ↑ Richard Vines (10 March 2016). "London's Oldest Fish Restaurant Is Loved by Bankers and Gangsters". Bloomberg. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
- ↑ "About – Sweetings Restaurant". Retrieved 2026-08-18.
- ↑ "Sweetings Restaurant". Sweetings Restaurant. 2014. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
- ↑ "Sweetings - The Restaurant Where Londoners Have Eaten Oysters Since 1889". Londonist. 2022-01-07. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
- ↑ "Albert Buildings, 49 Queen Victoria Street, London - e-architect". www.e-architect.com. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
- ↑ Rogers, Dave. "Emrys Architects' plans to turn listed building in City into apartments gets green light". Building Design. Retrieved 2026-08-18.