Pearl Assurance Company Limited

The Pearl Assurance Company Limited is an office block located on High Holborn in Camden. The central block was built between 1912 and 1919 by C Newman, with the east block constructed from 1929 to 1930 by P Moncton. The south-east extension was added between 1954 and 1956 by Bates & Sinning, and the west block followed from 1959 to 1960, also by Bates & Sinning. The building is made of Portland stone and granite, featuring a rusticated podium and a steep slated roof. It has an irregular plan that surrounds a central courtyard.

The main facade rises five storeys, with attics and two storeys of dormers, designed in the Edwardian Baroque style. The symmetrical design includes projecting end and central bays, with windows arranged in a pattern of 1:7:1:7:1. Engaged Ionic columns and pilasters extend from the second to the fourth floors, supporting an entablature. The round arched entrance is adorned with a console-keystone and is flanked by elaborate bracketed lanterns in two groups of three, along with bronze gates. The ground floor windows are architraved with rusticated keystones, while the first floor features round-headed architraved windows, the second has square-headed architraved windows, the third includes windows with cartouche keys and cast-iron balconies, and the fourth consists of oculi. The central entrance bay is flanked by paired columns topped with a broken segmental pediment, and above it is a two-stage tower with a leaded dome supported by Ionic engaged columns. The end bays are capped with smaller leaded domes.

Inside, the building boasts notable features, including a ground floor cash hall and a marble balustraded staircase. Additionally, there are attached balustraded parapets to the basement areas.