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Entrance Hall and Staircase

A brief history and overview of the Entrance Hall and main Staircase at Chartered Accountants' Hall, home to ICAEW since 1893.
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Chartered Accountants' Hall, headquarters of ICAEW in the City of London, was built between 1890 and 1893. The original pilastered entrance hall, fronting on Moorgate Place, was designed by the architect John Belcher RA.

Hall and staircase, Chartered Accountants Hall
Chartered Accountants Hall entrance hall and staircase, photographed 1893. Notice that the foundation stone (which is dated 8 July 1890) mysteriously does not appear to be in place yet in this photograph. It should be on the wall at the foot of the stairs visible in the bottom right corner of the picture.

Overview

Hallway

John Belcher's grand hallway design features a pilastered entrance hall, with a coffered panelled ceiling inspired by the sixteenth century Italian architect Alessi's ornate Palazzo Cambiaso in Genoa. As part of the 1970s refurbishment programme, the previously white ceiling had its details highlighted with blue, red, white, gold and grey paint. It incorporates the letters 'ICA' (to stand for 'Institute of Chartered Accountants') repeatedly in its pattern.

Photograph of the entrance hall ceiling
The ceiling of the entrance hall, painted in the 1970's refurbishment.

Staircase

The imposing staircase originally featured four stained-glass windows by renowned stained glass artist Henry Holiday, completed in 1898. Holiday's original 1897 watercolour designs for the windows are housed in the Prints, Drawings & Paintings collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. They celebrate different aspects of the accountancy profession - law, enterprise, commerce and finance.

View on staircase, Chartered Accountants Hall
Chartered Accountants Hall staircase, photographed 1893

The windows have an interesting history, as they were removed in 1970 during the William Whitfield extension work, and then sold and subsequently acquired by Peter Grant, manager of the rock band Led Zeppelin. The four windows then languished in storage in Grant's barn for nearly five decades. After his death, his family rediscovered the windows and put them up for auction, where they were serendipitously discovered by the ICAEW Foundation and reacquired.

Holiday's windows were re-installed in 2017, a year ahead of the 125th anniversary of the building's opening, and are now positioned in the entrance to the Great Hall. 

Henry Holiday window 1 - Britannia establishing organization
Henry Holiday stained glass window

Image gallery

Photograph of the entrance hall ceiling
The ceiling in the entrance hall, painted in the 1970's refurbishment.
Photograph of the Presidents' plaque
The plaque of Presidents up to 1979/80. There is a second plaque for more recent holders of that post.
Image of the WW1 memorial in Charted Accountants Hall
The WW1 memorial in the entrance hall
Henry Holiday window 1 - Britannia establishing organization
Britannia establishing organization, supported by law
Henry Holiday window 2 - Enterprise guided by knowledge and prudence
Enterprise guided by knowledge and prudence
View on staircase, Chartered Accountants Hall
View on staircase, Chartered Accountants Hall
Photograph of the staircase on the ground floor in the entrance hall
The staircase in the entrance hall which leads up to the reception rooms on the floor above
Photograph of the Economia figure above the War Memorial
Detail of the figure of Economia on top of the World War I memorial
Henry Holiday window 3 - Manufacture and Commerce directed by Experience
Manufacture and Commerce directed by Experience
Henry Holiday window 4 - Finance guided by accuracy and probity
Finance guided by Accuracy and Probity
Hall and staircase, Chartered Accountants Hall
Hall and staircase, Chartered Accountants Hall
Photograph of the building's foundation stone
The foundation stone, not present in the photograph of 1893, although dated 1890. It reads 'This stone was laid by Joseph John Saffery, President of the Institute on the 8th July 1890'.
Photograph of the staircase between 3rd and 4th floors
The upper part of the staircase leading up from the second to third floors

Further sources of information

The ICAEW Library & Information Service holds a collection of books and articles on Chartered Accountants' Hall, covering the original building and the later extensions. See our Further reading page for details of these, as well as links to web pages on the sculptors and artists whose work decorates the building.

Visiting Chartered Accountants' Hall

ICAEW members and students may be able to view these rooms when visiting Chartered Accountants' Hall in person (subject to availability). Everyone, including members of the public, can join our guided tours of the building as part of the annual Open House Festival.

Can't find what you're looking for?

The ICAEW Library can give you the right information from trustworthy, professional sources that aren't freely available online. Contact us for expert help with your enquiries and research.

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One Moorgate Place

Information on how to hire One Moorgate Place, home of Chartered Accountants' Hall, for conferences, meetings, weddings, parties, private dining and special occasions.

Main Reception Room