Head Office of the Great Travellers' Firm Removing from Its Historic Seat in Ludgate Circus to Splendid New Offices on Site of Devonshire House Many people have probably felt} that the only possible objection to the excellent firm of Thos. Cook ready for use this year, Simplicity is the key to the scheme of the new Head Office. The build+
Son was that for any important] i ands four-square upon work one had to go to Ludgate site, without a single Circus to see them. As the "Far break in the line'of walling. Archi Eastern Travellers' Gazette" points fectural effect in "the facade has out, sentloental associations clung not been allowed to rob the interior, like ivy about the walls of floor area of a single inch, 'The Ludgate Circus house, which chief result striven for, and which housed three generations of pri there is every reason' to belie Is—Thomas Cook the founder, has been attained, is the convenience 3. M, Cook his son, F. H. and E. E. of the public and of those who Cook the surviving grandsons.—It] minister to their requirements. was first occupied by the firm in Nevertheless this plainneas "or 1873 and has been the forcing house severity confers a dignity of its of all the devices which have tended own on the building, and gives to make travel what it is to-day; an architectural character" Which is the mother of a brood of Branch holds its own even amidst its fine Offices which girdle the earth, and surroundings. its very address has become the The urea covered by the entire synonym of travel throughout building is three-quarters of an acre. world. But, in spite of many addi The principal tenture of tions made'from time to time in floor is the booking hall wil the endeavour to keep pace with broken floor area of no less than the requirements of the travelling half an aero in extent, This hall public, these premises have become affords unexampled accommodation altogether inadequate for present-for the public for transacting their day needs. Development has out business, ard the inconvenience often grown accommodation, and, the: experienced in the booking office at Himit of expansion having' ' been Ludgate Circus through lack of reached, it became imperative that space, is never likely to occur in this more corimodious—_-headquarters spacious booking hall, should be sought elsewhere, Above the booking hall, on the Thos. Cook & Son have there-Mayfair-place frontage, there a1 fore acquired a portion of the site six floors of offices, and' four on the of Devonshire House, covering an main frontage in' Berkeley Street. area of 31,000 square feet, with 14] OM the second Moor, a large reading frontage to Berkeley Street of over 200 fect for the erection of _new central tourist and banking offices, capable of providing ample up-Jdate accozamodation for both—the public and the administrative staff.
Nevertheless, the Ludgate Circus 'Office, with all' the glamour of its] association with the origination and development of the Tourist System, will still remain the Chief Booking Office in the City and carry on the business as of old.
The new premises, of which the, future appearance is shown in the accompanying drawing, should be and writhiye room has been. pro vided for the convenience of travel-lors. Practically the whole of the top floor is set aside for luncheon, tea, rest and club rooms, with ample service for the staff of both sex which number over 1,500.
One many well congratula Messrs Cook on their fine new home and wish them as much prosperity {in it as in the old one. There. no need to wish them continuance of their fine repute for admirable ser= vice to travellers the world over. For that one knows well they will always deserve.
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Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.