Today Lloyd's is the world's leading insurance market, housed in an award-winning building on Lime Street in the City of London.

The origins of Lloyd's, however, lay in the more modest surroundings of a 17th century coffee house. It was in February 1688 Edward Barnsby was robbed of five pocket watches by a menacing individual. In an attempt to retrieve them Mr Barnsby placed an advert in the London Gazette concluding with the words:

"Whoever gives notice of them at Mr Edward Lloyd's coffee house in Tower Street or to Mr Edward Barnsby in Derby as above, shall have a guinea reward"

There is very little known either about Edward Lloyd or his coffee house. Coffee houses in general were centres of discussion where, in the days before newspapers, the latest gossip could be heard.

Edward Lloyd gained an enviable reputation for trustworthy shipping news, which ensured that 'Lloyd's coffee house', over and above its rivals, became the recognised place for obtaining marine insurance. As far as it is known Edward Lloyd took no part in underwriting, he remained a 'coffee-man' until his death in 1713. Lloyd's chief bequest to posterity was his name and the coffee house which bore it.