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This article was first published 12 years ago

Iconic and historic photos of London Stock Exchange

Last updated on: April 9, 2012 15:25 IST

Image: It was opened by Elizabeth I in 1571.
Photographs: Andrew Winning/Reuters

The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London in the United Kingdom. It's the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world and the largest in Europe.

The Royal Exchange was founded by Thomas Gresham on the model of the Antwerp Bourse, as a stock exchange. It was opened by Elizabeth I in 1571.

During the 17th century, stockbrokers were not allowed in the Royal Exchange due to their rude manners. They had to operate from other establishments in the vicinity, notably Jonathan's Coffee-House.

At that coffee house, a broker named John Casting started listing the prices of a few commodities, exchange rates and certain key provisions such as salt, coal and paper in 1698. Originally, this was not a daily list and was only published a few days of the week.

As stocks grew, with new companies joining to raise capital, the royal court also raised some monies. These are the earliest evidence of organised trading in marketable securities in London.

After Gresham's Royal Exchange building was destroyed in the Great Fire of London, it was rebuilt and re-established in 1669. This was a move away from coffee houses and a step towards the modern model of stock exchange.

Let's take a look at some historic and iconic photos of the London Stock Exchange.

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Iconic and historic photos of London Stock Exchange


Photographs: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The London Stock Exchange from a drawing by Thomas H Shepherd, 1820.

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Iconic and historic photos of London Stock Exchange


Photographs: Rischgitz/Getty Images

The London Stock Exchange, 1854.

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Iconic and historic photos of London Stock Exchange


Photographs: Central Press/Getty Images

The Grenadier Guards band playing music in the London Stock Exchange, during the 'Service Of Thanksgiving For The Victory In Europe Of The Arms Of The United Nations', May 16, 1945.

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Iconic and historic photos of London Stock Exchange


Photographs: Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Aerial view looking down on the crowds gathered on Throgmorton Street, outside the London Stock Exchange, on the announcement that the Gold Standard had been suspended, in the City of London, 1931.

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Iconic and historic photos of London Stock Exchange


Photographs: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

A crowd of notable Victorian gentlemen gathered in the London Stock Exchange. A life drawing by Lockhart Bogle. Original Publication: The Graphic - Well Known Faces In The Consol Market, 1891.

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Iconic and historic photos of London Stock Exchange


Photographs: Bush/Express/Getty Images

K Forster, left, of the London Stock Exchange making a kerbside deal in gold shares with R Edsall, a South African dealer, April 18, 1946.

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Iconic and historic photos of London Stock Exchange


Photographs: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Work stops at the London Stock Exchange for the 'Service of Thanksgiving' for the Victory in Europe of the Arms of the United Nations.' Music was played by the Band of the Grenadier Guards, May 16, 1945.

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Iconic and historic photos of London Stock Exchange


Photographs: Central Press/Getty Images

The top-hatted attendants of the London Stock Exchange stand in Capel Court outside the entrance to the Stock Exchange. One of the stockbrokers' cars is in the foreground, November 1951.

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Iconic and historic photos of London Stock Exchange


Photographs: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

A worker uses a flexible drive to assist with the cleaning process of this war memorial outside the London Stock Exchange, 1948.

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Iconic and historic photos of London Stock Exchange


Photographs: Harry Benson/Express/Getty Images

A teenage gang outside the London Stock Exchange visitors' gallery, March 12, 1963.

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Iconic and historic photos of London Stock Exchange


Photographs: Central Press/Getty Images

Two men stand outside the entrance to the London Stock Exchange, November 1951.

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Iconic and historic photos of London Stock Exchange


Photographs: Harry Benson/Express/Getty Images

George Britton, John Hassell, Terence Young and Ray Clarke, members of a teenage gang outside the London Stock Exchange visitors' gallery, March 12, 1963.

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Iconic and historic photos of London Stock Exchange


Photographs: Central Press/Getty Images

A view of the London Stock Exchange trading floor. On the right can be seen the American and Canadian exchange rates, November 23, 1964.

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Iconic and historic photos of London Stock Exchange


Photographs: Harry Benson/Express/Getty Images

A teenage gang outside the London Stock Exchange, 1963.

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Iconic and historic photos of London Stock Exchange


Photographs: Evening Standard/Getty Images

The London Stock Exchange's Financial Times Share Index board, 1965.

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Iconic and historic photos of London Stock Exchange


Photographs: Arthur Jones/Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

One of the first women to be admitted to the floor of the London Stock exchange, March 26, 1973. Women had been barred from the floor during trading hours since the exchange opened.

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Iconic and historic photos of London Stock Exchange


Photographs: Fox Photos/Getty Images

Trading floor of the London Stock Exchange, in the City of London, July 18, 1973.

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Iconic and historic photos of London Stock Exchange


Photographs: George W Hales/Fox Photos/Getty Images

Trading in the London Stock Exchange, June 11, 1973.

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Iconic and historic photos of London Stock Exchange


Photographs: Evening Standard/Getty Images

Traders on the telephones at the London Stock Exchange, 1974.

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Iconic and historic photos of London Stock Exchange


Photographs: Evening Standard/Getty Images

Traders on the telephones at the London Stock Exchange, 1974.

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Iconic and historic photos of London Stock Exchange


Photographs: Evening Standard/Getty Images

The London Stock Exchange trading floor, 1974.

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Iconic and historic photos of London Stock Exchange


Photographs: Victor Blackman/Express/Getty Images

Inside the London Stock Exchange, August 10, 1984.

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Iconic and historic photos of London Stock Exchange


Photographs: Aubrey Hart/Evening Standard/Getty Images

The exterior of the Bank of England, the London Stock Exchange, with the Nat West Tower under construction beyond, seen from Threadneedle Street, London, November 12, 1976.

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Iconic and historic photos of London Stock Exchange


Photographs: Victor Blackman/Express/Getty Images

Inside the London Stock Exchange, August 10, 1984.

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Iconic and historic photos of London Stock Exchange


Photographs: Victor Blackman/Express/Getty Images

Inside the London Stock Exchange, August 10, 1984.

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Iconic and historic photos of London Stock Exchange


Photographs: Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Trading at the London Stock Exchange after the privatisation of British Telecom, December 3, 1984.

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Iconic and historic photos of London Stock Exchange


Photographs: Victor Blackman/Express/Getty Images

Inside the London Stock Exchange, August 10, 1984.

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Iconic and historic photos of London Stock Exchange


Photographs: Steve Eason/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Busy traders at work on the trading floor of London's Stock Exchange, Threadneedle Street, 1990.

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Iconic and historic photos of London Stock Exchange


Photographs: Steve Eason/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

A tired trader working on the trading floor at London's Stock Exchange, Threadneedle Street, 1990.