After leaving Frankfurt, Nathan Mayer Rothschild needed a location where he could build his banking business and continue his merchant activities as well as house his family.

"[2] Lionel de Rothschild (who had succeeded his father Nathan in 1838 as head of the firm) hired architect Thomas Marsh Nelson to design a building in the Italianate style which was completed in 1868.

In a 1941 Nazi air raid, St Swithin's Lane was struck with many buildings being damaged.

Although the idea of extending the buildings vertically was posed, the Rothschild family ultimately decided to develop a new office.

Architect Rem Koolhaas of OMA was selected to design the new headquarters for Rothschild which was completed in 2011.