Royal Exchange

The Royal Exchange is the building for the national exchange located in London, England.

History

Inspired by Belgium's Bourse of Antwerp, the Royal Exchange was built in 1570, thanks to the investments made by merchant Sir Thomas Gresham. Gresham's influence was so great that the building featured a grasshopper—the insect on Gresham's coat of arms—on the weathervane and a statue of Gresham in the open courtyard. This statue was the only thing in the Royal Exchange to survive the Great Fire of 1666.

Christopher Wren redesigned the Exchange, which was open to the public from 1669 to 1838, when it was again consumed by fire. The third and current Royal Exchange was opened by Queen Victoria on 28 October 1844, with Gresham's grasshopper returning to the weathervane, where it has remained since.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Syndicate