The atrium below the dome at the headquarters of the Royal Bank of Scotland.
The imposing building was originally the townhouse built in 1772 for Sir Lawrence Dundas who had bought the site by rather devious means as it had been planned for a church instead. According to a report it was “incomparably the handsomest town-house we ever saw.”
There is an old story that Sir Laurence staked his splendid new house in a bet with one General Scott. When he lost the bet, Dundas decided instead to build the General a replica in Drummond Place. Unfortunately Sir Laurence was not able to enjoy his house for long. Only nine years after it was built he died, and the building was bought by government as the Excise Office for Scotland. To this day the royal coat of arms, picked out in gold leaf, still adorns the front of the building. In 1825 it was bought by the Royal Bank of Scotland as their head office.
This part was added in 1857 as the new banking hall with the dome with 120 glazed stars providing day light to supplement the poor gas light for the clerks.
An entry to Bobsblip’s August wideangle challenge. Atrium
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