Chimney Piece,Tallow Chandlers' Hall, ca.1886

From: Henry Dixon & Son

RA Collection: Art

Tallow Chandlers' Hall, on Dowgate Hill, was rebuilt in 1672, after its destruction in the Great Fire. The Chimney-piece shown in the photograph is in the Court Parlour. Allen (History, vol.iii. p.517) speaks of a landscape over the mantel-piece. This was the fashion of the time, and explains the oblong found over mantel-pieces of the date. The pictures have generally long since disappeared; I can call to mind only one in the City seen many years ago, and that stuck full of holes. The Tallow Chandler's Chimney-piece is a very fine example of its kind. The table shown on the left is an interesting relic, having been rescued from the Great Fire.

The above description, by Alfred Marks, was taken from the letterpress which accompanies the photographs. The Tallow Chandlers' are one of over a hundred Livery Companies in the City of London. Tallow Chandlers' Hall, its parlour and chimney piece exist today very much as shown in Dixon's photograph.