London: Tea Time in Wonderland

I usually walk up Fleet street at week-ends. Although I have always wondered about this amazing hive, the door below has always been shut by a heavy grid.

Weekdays, though, what a treasure! Doulton tiles, glossy, varnished, hand painted, floral theme, sculpted fishes everywhere, not a single space left not decorated from gorund to ceiling… Luxurious.

Nearby sits the tiny Twinings Museum. The Twining inheritants, having made their fortune in the tea industry, decide in 1825 to starrt their own bank on Fleet St. In 10 years, they’ll grow from a simple desk, juggling between trade and banking, to building their own at number 215 – just next door to the Lloyds building.  A first fusion takes place in 1892: the Lloyds Bank, Twinings Branch. This will later lead to a complete absorption and the whole company will move under Lloyds – Richard Twining III will even be one of its directors.

I can’t find much on the architecture of the place though. It originally opened in 1883 as a smart restaurant. A revolution at the time, it provided air-conditioning! Miraculous? In fact, two women pedalled in the basement on a tandem actioning a whole air system. Go and see, it is still there!

And you thought finance was boring?

Lloyds TSB
222 Strand,
Covent Garden
London, WC2R 1BB

Have a look at this pub a couple of streets away!

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