On the front of the
building there are four circular ceramic
plaques apparently depicting the elements
of the tobacco trade. There are two
showing ships of different generations.
A third that features a
steam train, presumably showing the
process of trans-shippment after the
product is unloaded from the ship.
Finally, and most
confusingly, there is the one below which,
far from showing the cultivation of
tobacco, shows instead a worker collecting
cotton. All the sources I consulted
identify this building as a tobacco
warehouse but either it had a different
initial purpose or the architect wasn't
clear about his customers' trade.
An article in the
Evening Standard in 2015 announced that
the Landlord Workspace had, "...
snapped up a former tobacco warehouse
in Angel to help satisfy demand for
hundreds of viewings a week from small
businesses wanting London office
space. Chief executive Jamie
Hopkins said the group is often
showing up to 30 SMEs and start-ups
around its 90 buildings in the capital
every day. .... The group has paid
nearly £34 million for its latest
acquisition — Angel House on Goswell
Road — which is let but will have
scope for new tenants in the next few
years."