The Prudential Assurance Building is a

Grade II listed In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure of particular architectural or historic interest deserving of special protection. Such buildings are placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, H ...

, Victorian

Gothic revival Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic or neo-Gothic) is an Architectural style, architectural movement that after a gradual build-up beginning in the second half of the 17th century became a widespread movement in the first half ...

style office building located on

Dale Street Dale Street is a thoroughfare in Liverpool city centre, England. The street was one of the original seven streets that made up the medieval borough founded by King John in 1207, together with Castle Street, Old Hall Street, Chapel Street, ...

in the centre of Liverpool, England. It was designed by local architect

Alfred Waterhouse Alfred Waterhouse (19 July 1830 – 22 August 1905) was an English architect, particularly associated with Gothic Revival architecture, although he designed using other architectural styles as well. He is perhaps best known for his designs ...

(also noted for the

Natural History Museum A natural history museum or museum of natural history is a scientific institution with natural history scientific collection, collections that include current and historical records of animals, plants, Fungus, fungi, ecosystems, geology, paleo ...

and

Manchester Town Hall Manchester Town Hall is a Victorian era, Victorian, Gothic Revival architecture, Neo-gothic City and town halls, municipal building in Manchester, England. It is the ceremonial headquarters of Manchester City Council and houses a number of local ...

) and was constructed in 1885–6. The building was commissioned by the country's leading insurance provider Prudential as its new regional offices in Liverpool. It was part of a series of buildings commissioned by the Prudential from Waterhouse, notably the firm's large headquarters in London, now known as Holborn Bars. Like the other Prudential commissions, the building is noted for its use of red

architectural terracotta Architectural terracotta refers to a fired mixture of clay and water that can be used in a non-structural, semi-structural, or structural capacity on the exterior or interior of a building. Terracotta is an ancient building material that transla ...

and brick.The Edinburgh building is an exception in using sandstone. It has a tower which was added to the building by the architect's son Paul Waterhouse in 1905. Gold lettering above the first floor windows near the corner read ''Prudential Assurance Buildings'', and Roman numerals at the same level on the corner bay commemorate the date of completion, 1886. Alongside the likes of

Liverpool Town Hall Liverpool Town Hall stands in High Street, Liverpool, High Street at its junction with Dale Street, Castle Street, and Water Street, Liverpool, Water Street in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for E ...

, Bank of England Building, India Buildings, White Star Building and the Tower Buildings. The Prudential Assurance Building is amongst the most architecturally important buildings in the commercial district which is one of the six areas that constitute Liverpool's status as a

UNESCO World Heritage Site World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an treaty, international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural ...

. It is currently used by Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunal Service (Social Security and Child Support Tribunal).

References

{{Liverpool B&S Office buildings completed in 1856 Gothic Revival architecture in Merseyside Alfred Waterhouse buildings Terracotta Grade II listed buildings in Liverpool Prudential plc 1856 establishments in England

See also

References