Pelican on Holborn Bars

This pelican is one of a few that adorn in inner courtyard of a large, red building in Holborn, London. The building is very serious and striking, and the pelican seems to be an unusual bird to feature on it. I've always been curious to discover more about the architect, and now blip has given me an excuse - the architect was Alfred Waterhouse, who also designed the Natural History Museum. That makes more sense of the pelican. The building itself is called 'Holborn Bars' and was the headquarters of the Prudential Insurance company until 2002.