Butterfield & Swire - Shanghai - 1906
Quai de France, French Concession.
Formed in 1867 in Shanghai, Butterfield & Swire was one of the biggest and best-known British 'hongs' or trading houses. Known by its Chinese name 'Taikoo', Butterfield & Swire built its trade in shipping, sugar and insurance. It operated The China Navigation Co Ltd which sailed , amongst other places along the China coast between Tientsin, Chefoo, Shanghai, Canton and Hong Kong.
Designed by Shanghai-based architects Messrs Davies, Brooke & Gran, this utilitarian red brick office and godown building is located on the French Bund or Quai de France, just to the south of the British Bund. For a remarkable photo of the building taken from the collection of John Swire & Sons, go to the archive at Historical Photographs of China website at hpc.vcea.net/Asset/Preview/dbImage_ID-17974_No-1.jpeg
Swires also had godowns and its own jetties. It was and remains one of the leading British trading firms in China owning 40% of the airline Cathay Pacific.
Butterfield & Swire - Shanghai - 1906
Quai de France, French Concession.
Formed in 1867 in Shanghai, Butterfield & Swire was one of the biggest and best-known British 'hongs' or trading houses. Known by its Chinese name 'Taikoo', Butterfield & Swire built its trade in shipping, sugar and insurance. It operated The China Navigation Co Ltd which sailed , amongst other places along the China coast between Tientsin, Chefoo, Shanghai, Canton and Hong Kong.
Designed by Shanghai-based architects Messrs Davies, Brooke & Gran, this utilitarian red brick office and godown building is located on the French Bund or Quai de France, just to the south of the British Bund. For a remarkable photo of the building taken from the collection of John Swire & Sons, go to the archive at Historical Photographs of China website at hpc.vcea.net/Asset/Preview/dbImage_ID-17974_No-1.jpeg
Swires also had godowns and its own jetties. It was and remains one of the leading British trading firms in China owning 40% of the airline Cathay Pacific.