Royal Exchange Buildings

   South out of Threadneedle Street, at No. 1, to 82 Corn-hill (P.O. Directory), on the east side of the Royal Exchange. In Broad Street Ward.

   First mention: O.S. 1875.

   Former names : " Sweetings Alley," 1662 (Account books St. Bart the litell, ed. Freshfield, p.174). "Swithuns Rents" (Rocque, 1746). "Swithuns Alley" (O. and M. 1677). "Sweetings Alley" (P.C. 1732-Horwood, 1799-Elmes, 1831). "Exchange Buildings " (O.S. 1848-51).

   In Lockie and Elmes "Sweetings Rents" are described as coming east out of Sweetings Alley as in Rocque, but in the other maps they are called by the one name, "Swithins " or " Sweetings Alley."

   Elmes says that before the Great Fire the alley contained only one house, a spacious building, which belonged to a merchant of the name of Sweeting.

   Wheatley says Henry Swieten or Sweeting, a Dutch merchant in the 17th century. The house was burnt again in 1838 and rebuilt as " Exchange Buildings."