Source Description:

Title: The London Institution, Finsbury Circus    
Artist: Shepherd, Thomas
Engraver / Plate Maker: Deeble, William
Size:  5.75" x 3.5"
Print Date:  1827

The London Institution was founded in 1806, "To promote the Diffusion of Science, Literature and The Arts." Its first home was No. 8 Old Jewry in the City of London, but by 1812 it was in need of larger premises and so moved to a more spacious house a few hundred yards away  in Kings Arms Yard, Coleman Street. This again, soon proved inadequate for the Institution's needs and it was decided to move to  purpose built accommodation in Finsbury Circus. This was designed by William Brooks and built by Thomas Cubit, work  started in 1815, and the building was opened April 21st. 1819. It contained amongst other amenities, a Library, Reading Rooms, a  Science and Chemistry Laboratory and a Lecture Hall which could accommodate some seven hundred and fifty persons. By the early 1900's large sums of money were being expended on repairs to the building and it was heavily re- mortgaged, inevitably, in 1912 the Institution closed. However, in 1917, the refurbished building opened as the University of London School of Oriental Studies. The Institution's Library of over 100,000 books had been divided between the British Museum and the University, the Guildhall Library receiving the many London topographical books. In 1933, the School moved to a site near the British museum in Bloomsbury and the Institution building was demolished in 1936.

Description:

An indented earthenware plate printed in dark blue with a pattern named The London Institution, Finsbury Circus.