Lot 62: Hanslip Fletcher (1874-1955)

Phoenix Assurance, West End; and Phoenix Assurance, Lombard Street
signed and dated 'Hanslip Fletcher 1915' (lower right)
pencil, watercolour and black ink
13 1/2 x 9 in. (34.2 x 22.8 cm.) (2)

The first watercolour shows the century old West End Headquarters ravished when the Mall Approach was constucted following the erection of the Admiralty Arch; and the second watercolour shows No.19 Lombard Street, which remained the world-wide headquarters of the Phoenix Group of Companies for 133 years. Acquired in 1783, (a few months after the establishment of the company in 1782) this corner site was opposite Lloyds coffee-houes of that date. Prior to the Great Fire, the building had housed a haberdasher, a lace-maker, a goldsmith and taverns know as 'Two Bells' and 'The George'. In the middle of World War I, the headquarters of the Group were moved to Phoenix House, King William Street.

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