Abion House, previously White Star House and also known as the Streaky Bacon Building, was commisioned by Bruce Ismay, head of the White Star shipping line. The architect was Richard Norman Shaw, who also designed New Scotland Yard in London.

Bruce Ismay travelled on the ill fated voyage of the RMS Titanic and his reputation was tarnished forever when it was learned that he had been rescued in a lifeboat otherwise filled with women and children.

When the news of the Titanic become known in April 1912 massive crowds gathered outside this building, and the clerks of the White Star Line, concerned for their own safety, wrote the names of the surviving passengers on pieces of paper and tossed them from the balconies into the crowd below.

The building suffered damage to the end gable in the second world war and was repaired using a slightly different colour of brick.