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Holborn Bars, also known as the Prudential Assurance Building is a large red terracotta Victorian building on the north side (138–142) of Holborn in Camden at the boundary of the City of London, England.
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History
Located close to the Holborn Bar city boundary of the City of London it was built on the site of the former Furnival's Inn building of the Inns of Chancery. Designed in Gothic Revival style for the Prudential Assurance Society in phases between 1885 and 1901 by architects Alfred Waterhouse and his son Paul Waterhouse and modified 1930–32 by E. M. Joseph, who introduced Art Deco features. It was expanded again in 1993 by EPR Architects to a floor area of 34,931 square metres.
The block is bounded by Holborn to the south, Brooke Street to the west, Leather Lane to the east and Beauchamp Street to the north.
The building featured a library, restaurant, chapel, hall, rooftop promenade and a women's entrance. It was electrically lit and featured hot running water.
The complex encloses a courtyard, Waterhouse Square, named after the original architect, who also designed the Natural History Museum and Manchester Town Hall.
The building was listed Grade II* on 3 March 1972.
Prudential moved out of the building in 1999 but retained ownership of it. It is currently occupied by De Vere Venues and also the London office of English Heritage at 1 Waterhouse Square.
1–4 Holborn Bars
It is not to be confused with 1–4 Holborn Bars, a Grade I listed Tudor inn complex whose restoration was funded by the Prudential Assurance Society on the south side of Holborn.