It's an exquisite and well-restored piece of history.
Initally, the idea of an exchange came in 1562. When merchant Sir Thomas Gresham (1519-79) established it, Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603) opened on 23 January 1571, and she granted it its 'Royal' title.
The old structure had burned down twice. The current neoclassical style building was designed by Sir William Tite (1798-1873) in the 1840s. The long-term tenant was Lloyd's of London, an insurance market, for a century and a half. Now, the three-story-high, overarching glass dome provides the airy atrium with ample light, housing restaurants such as Fortnum & Mason, and high-end shops, including a Tiffany & Co. branch.
Googling the oldest exchange, two answers turned up:
~ The Amsterdam Stock Exchange, founded in 1602
~ The barter system was introduced by the Mesopotamian tribes around 6000 BC
... wondering why the London's Royal Exchange didn't make the list. read more