London City Mission House. Blackfriars, London

NEW CITY MISSION HOUSE - Some time since the Committee decided to erect a new mission house. The following architects were invited to send in designs, on a scale of 8ft. to lin., the drawings not to be perspective: Messrs. Spalding & Knight, Messrs. Searle & Sons, Messrs. Habershon & Pite, Mr. Bell. The three architects not employed to be paid £15 each for their designs, which were to be sent in under scaled mottoes on or before November 20, and then to be considered the property of the Society. The decision arrived at is in favour of Messrs. Spalding & Knight, and the building is to be erected forthwith upon a permanent site in Blackfriars, opposite the Ludgate Railway Station. The chosen design has a facade in the Italian style in brick and stone, the hall and library being planned in the rear of the ground storey. The maximum price of building to be limited to £7,000; this sum to include the extension of the vaults and footway required, stoves, bell and gas fittings, speaking-tubes, and arrangements for warming, ventilation, and carrying off gas by zinc tubes. The windows to be of plate glass. [Building News 20 December 1872 page 480]

LONDON CITY MISSION COMPETITION - New official premises being required for the London City Mission, the committee invited Messrs. Spalding & Knight, Messrs. Searle & Sons, Messrs. Habershon & Pite, and Mr. Bell, to send in designs; the three architects not employed to be paid £15 each for their designs, then to be considered the property of the society. The maximum cost of building was limited to £7,000, this sum to include the extension of the vaults and footway required, stoves, bell and gas fittings, speaking-tubes, and arrangements for warming, ventilation, and carrying off gas by zinc tubes; the building to be constructed of brick, with stone dressings. The design was to include a large-sized room for storing and distributing Bibles, tracts, etc; a lecture-hall, to seat from 400 to 500 persons; and a library to hold the books lent out to the missionaries, with a capacity of about 30 ft. by 20 ft. Designs having been submitted, the committee have just now decided in favour of Messrs. Spalding & Knight. The chosen design is in the Italian style, with a facade of brick and stone, and is to be erected forthwith upon a prominent site in Blackfriars, opposite the Ludgate Railway Station  - part of the former site of Radley's Hotel and the Bridewell. [Builder 21 December 1872 page 1002]

ARCHITECTURAL IMPROVEMENTS IN LUDGATE CIRCUS AND NEW BRIDGE STREET - The area on the west side of New Bridewell place is also rapidly being covered with public buildings, and those of a mercantile character. Amongst these is the new London City Mission House, a building immediately facing the north and south side of New Bridewell-place, and commanding a good view from New Bridge-street. This building, which has already been noticed in the Builder, is 50 feet in height, and built of Portland stone, contains ground floor, and two stories above, surmounted by dormers. The ground-floor entrance has a projecting porch, supported by columns on each side, with ornamental capitals, with a balcony above. The building has just been finished internally, and is now occupied for the purposes of the Mission. Messrs. Spalding & Knight are the architects, and Messrs. David King & Son, the contractors. [Builder 4 April 1874 page 287]