Esoteric London

St Mary Axe, London, EC3. Photo © Roger Dean 2011

In the 17th century, London’s importance as a trade centre led to an increasing demand for ship and cargo insurance. Edward Lloyd’s coffee house opened around 1688 and being a popular haunt of sailors, merchants, and ship owners it became recognised as the place for obtaining marine insurance. This is where the Lloyd’s that we know today began and from where it takes its name.

In the photograph above the present Lloyd’s building, at 1 Lime Street, designed by Richard Rogers can be seen reflected in Anish Kapoor’s Sky Mirror part of the Great St Helen’s and Undershaft Sculpture Park. R.D.