The City authorities were now aware that the new block, at its downstream corner, would come closer to the river than allowed for by the 40 foot rule in the pending Thames Quay law. Charles II, through his new Surveyor General, Dr Christopher Wren, kept a watchful eye on the development of the new riverside, the Thames being then London's chief thoroughfare.

The Company had to submit a design - either Jerman's improved by Lock or Lock's improved in Wren's office - showing the riverside block's position and intended appearance from the river, in order to obtain royal planning permission. For the resultant certificate Wren was paid ten gold pieces - and from the design there was just room for a narrow public way to pass between the Hall and its wharf.

The new block, of red brick with stone dressings, pedimented centre, and twin flights of steps, was one of the first two important riverside buildings completed in the City after the Fire, the other being Wren's Custom House.

During that Hall's century and a half of life, Canaletto and many other artists drew and painted it in its setting of steeples and houses and river traffic. The stone staircases were replaced by a terrace in 1790. At the downstream corner from about 1750, a wine tavern called The Shades occupied the cellar opening off the public quay. In 1828, after it was agreed that part of the Hall's site was to be cut off for a new London Bridge, the tavern moved next door, upstream, where it stood as The Old Shades until 1882.

During the period 1788-90 much of the Hall's interior had to be renewed, after the structure was found to be affected by the dry rot that arose from inadequate foundations so near to a tidal river.

The placing of the new bridge, upstream of the old bridge, required the Company to give up a strip of the Hall 20 feet wide. It was, therefore, decided to demolish the riverside and parlour ranges in 1827 and the rest in 1830-31.

Most of the contents were auctioned off, but certain treasures were kept and those cherished in today's Hall include Peirce's carved wooden statue of Walworth (1684) now on the grand staircase, part of a carved marble chimneypiece (1741) now in the Courtroom, a rare silver chandelier (1752) now brought out on special occasions, and a stone Charity group (1791) now in the entrance hall. Also there remain, opposite the foot of the stairs, ornaments from the eighteenth century ceremonial barge which was sold off in 1856. Apart from retaining these treasures, the feeling in 1831 was that all should be made new.

Current as at August 09, 2003