Image credit: It's No Game / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 · 2018-10-30 ↗
The Former Daily Telegraph: Columns, Egyptian Detail and a Giant Clock
135–141 Fleet Street · Temple → Fleet Street → Lincoln’s Inn · Newspaper architecture / interwar London / Egyptian Revival detail
Story
The former *Daily Telegraph* headquarters vividly illustrates how Fleet Street newspapers competed not only through circulation but also through architecture. Completed in 1928, the building was designed by Elcock & Sutcliffe with the involvement of Thomas Tait. Its Portland stone façade features imposing giant columns, flanking towers, and balconies, all adorned with bronze details showing an Egyptian influence. Most notably, a large clock projects prominently over Fleet Street. This journalistic palace was later known as Peterborough Court and took on a second life as the European headquarters for Goldman Sachs from 1991 until 2019. The newspaper had departed Fleet Street following the profound industry changes of the late 1980s. The wider campus is undergoing a significant redevelopment cycle in 2025–26, so the immediate surroundings may change, although the protected historic frontage remains its key feature. This building is a crucial insight into Fleet Street. Before the digital age, newspapers were not just abstract brands; they erected grand palaces for their production and administration right on this street. The name *Daily Telegraph* can still be read in the stone, a tangible link to its heyday. Observe this building and compare it with Lutyens’ Reuters building and the black-glass *Daily Express* nearby: three distinct architectural statements from the former media capital.
What to look for
Look for the prominent projecting clock, the imposing giant columns on the façade, the Egyptian-influenced bronze details on the balconies, and the "Daily Telegraph" inscription carved into the stone.
Secret detail
This building transitioned from being the nerve centre of a newspaper empire to housing one of the world's largest investment banking firms, Goldman Sachs, for almost three decades.
Where exactly
In front of 135–141 Fleet Street, on the north side of the road.
Orientation
To take in the full façade, view it from the south side of Fleet Street.
Why it matters
This building showcases the opulence and power of Fleet Street newspapers before the digital age, illustrating how architecture served as a statement of their significance in London's media heartland.
Access & opening
Wider campus redevelopment may create hoardings or route changes.
Free exterior view.
We never show live status. Check opening hours before you go.
Accessibility
Exterior visible from public pavement.