Prudential Assurance Building

The Prudential Assurance Building on Holborn Bars is a major office block built in several phases between 1885 and 1901 by the architect Alfred Waterhouse, assisted by his son Paul. Further substantial additions were made in 1930-32 by EM Joseph, and the building incorporates fragments from 1878-79. Later rebuilding from 1989-93 replaced some elements but did not entirely obscure the earlier work.

The building is constructed of polished granite, red brick, and red terracotta with extensive fine ironwork. The roof is predominantly slate laid in diminishing courses. The 1930s additions contain an internal steel frame, yet the whole complex achieves visual coherence through the consistent use of a restricted colour palette and similar materials throughout.

The architectural style is boldly detailed and picturesque Gothic Revival. The building has a complex plan dominated by the front range of 1897-1901, part of the Furnival's Inn building campaign. To the west of this range is a steel-framed range of 1930-32 by EM Joseph in matching style, occupying the site of the first Prudential development (1879-83), now truncated. Recent work along Brooke Street incorporates within it a three-window range from 1885-88 by Waterhouse. East of the Furnival's Inn block and returning along Leather Lane is the Ridler's Hotel block, dating from 1897-1901. North of this stands the Wood's Hotel range of 1895-96 and the Greville Street and Leather Lane block of 1895.

The Holborn Bars elevation features a carriageway arch flanked by pedestrian arched walkways in a range terminating in a tower with a hipped roof and fleche. Three window ranges stand to either side, with the centre topped by a gabled dormer. Full-height rectangular bays finishing in facing gables terminate these ranges, each containing a three-window segmental bay. The 1930-32 range to the west is seven storeys tall in the main, though the ranges to Holborn Bars continue the facade height of the Furnival's Inn building. Joseph's work includes a four-window range contiguous with Waterhouse's, terminating at the corner with Brooke Street in a rectangular bay. A short return along the west contains two-window ranges before the building steps up to a seven-storey high wing of three windows. Embedded in the late 20th century work along Brooke Street is a three-window range of 1885-88 with a four-window return to the north; the corner is marked by a polygonal turret finishing in a high hipped roof.

Along Leather Lane, the Ridler's Hotel parcel shows a five-window range continuing from the Furnival's Inn range and terminating in a rectangular corner wing. The return maintains the design of the main block before setting back along the long Leather Lane elevation, which has a basement area enclosed by authentic railings. This 1897-1901 work continues to just north of an angled bay terminating in a turret with a conical roof. Although the materials match those on the main Holborn Bars elevation, the detailing is considerably simplified. East of this angled bay and tower is a two-storey flat-roofed block of two windows; behind stand ranges from the Furnival's Inn campaign exactly matching the Ridler's Hotel block design. North of a bay containing a pedestrian way stands the Wood's Hotel block with a four-window range. From this point, marked by a hefty half-round attached shaft, the elevation cambers westwards for nine windows in the Greville Street and Leather Lane block, terminating near the corner in two facing gables with a short westward return along the former line of Greville Street. This north-east block has the simplest design in the complex but maintains the colour consistency of other elevations.

The internal courtyard, now named Waterhouse Square, is flanked by substantial ranges. The north courtyard's north range is four windows wide, flanked by gable-facing pavilions, part of the Wood's Hotel block. The northernmost bays of the east and west ranges belong to this same campaign. The southern parts of these ranges and the southern range are part of the Furnival's Inn campaign, as is the narrow carriageway to the south entrance courtyard. A First World War Memorial has been relocated to the north-east corner of Waterhouse Square, with bronze plaques commemorating the Second World War flanking the entrance from Waterhouse Square to Leather Lane.

The interior contains significant spaces. The public office on the ground floor of the Furnival's Inn block and the Director's Staircase are both sheathed in faience. The Library survives with most of its original fittings, including lights. On the first floor, the suite of manager's offices retains mahogany panelling in one of the tower rooms and in all rooms to the east. Several second-floor rooms retain good panelling, plaster ceilings, and fireplaces. The faience in the Cashier's Office is particularly noteworthy. Panelling from the 1878-79 Board Room was reused in the Director's Rest Room.