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Commerce Welcoming All Nations Frieze

Restoration of the frieze

The stone frieze around two sides of Battishill Street Gardens (also known as Battershill Gardens) was carved by classical sculptor Musgrave Watson (1804 - 1847) in 1842. It was originally on the front of a grand Hall of Commerce in Threadneedle Street in the City. Inside the original building were two huge halls, with Corinthian columns and pilasters and elegantly coved ceilings, plus a reading-room, a room where commission agents could exhibit their samples, a place for wool sales, an auction for railway shares, rooms for meetings of creditors and private arbitrations, and rooms for the deposit of deeds.

The sculpture is an allegorical composition showing Commerce standing centrally with wings outstretched to welcome all nations. On the left side is a lion and representations of poetry, music and painting, followed by Enterprise guided by Genius with a group looking towards the Messenger of Peace and Glad Tidings. On the right side of Commerce are Peace and Bearers of Fruits of the Earth, Navigation guided by Urania and others personifying Geography and Education. The far right depicts people shackled and looking up towards Britannia as a saviour.

The Hall of Commerce was demolished in 1922 and the frieze was salvaged and put into store. In 1975 Sir John Betjeman oversaw a project to re-erect it in the newly created Battishill Gardens.

Musgrave Watson is best known for his public works, including one of the panels on Nelson's Column and the pediment sculpture of the Victoria Rooms, Bristol, but he died young and relatively few works remain.

While not in too poor a condition, the Portland stone frieze has been neglected in recent years with undergrowth growing onto the stonework and new cracks appearing. The project will include cleaning trials, grout and mortar repairs and a lime-based shelter coat on the whole frieze. The setting of the frieze will also be enhanced through improvements to the landscaping. Islington Council have committed to attending to the overgrown garden and flower beds to protect the frieze going forward.

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