The upper schoolroom of Merchant Taylors School, [City of London], 1862. The ancient pile, like so many other public and private edifices of London, was destroyed by the Great Fire. In its stead the present building and the house adjoining (which till 1856 was used as a residence for the Head Master) were erected, in 1675. In this case, as in that of the original purchase, the expense was defrayed by members of the Merchant Taylors Company, without trenching upon funds assigned to corporate purposes. The premises now consist of a commodious upper schoolroom; two writing-rooms, formed in 1829 out of apartments previously occupied by the Under Masters and a portion of the cloister; a classroom for the Head Masters assistant, formerly used as a dayroom for the Head Masters boarders; a common room for the Under Masters; and a library standing on the site of the ducal chapel, where the boys are entered, and where examinations are held. From "Illustrated London News", 1862.