The Central Arcade
Designed by J. Oswald & Sons
This triple domed ediface fills its triangular site, each dome is crowned by a bunch of monstrous bronze feathers. The Central Arcade has frontages on Grainger Street, Grey Street and Market Street, all dating from c1840 designed for Richard Grainger, probably by John Wardle. Exchange Buildings was originally designed as a commercial exchange and newsroom but in 1869 the exchange was converted into an art gallery. After a devastating fire it was rebuilt in 1906 and the Central Arcade was opened with entrances on all three sides of the triangle. Below the glass barrel-vaulted roof all is glistening Burmantofts ceramics in shades of browns, buffs and yellows: huge panels, little niches, grotesque animal heads and elegant lettering abound. Another fine example of this ceramic tilework can be found at the Centurion Bar in the Central Railway Station.
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