Commerce Welcoming All Nations 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, with beyond, people shackled and looking up towards a figure of Britannia as a saviour.

The Hall of Commerce was demolished in 1922 and the frieze was salvaged and put into store. In 1975 it was being offered for disposal. Alfred Head, Islington’s Borough Architect, who was working on a new children’s playground in Battishill Gardens at the time, saw an opportunity to rescue it.

“I saw the opportunity of incorporating it in a housing scheme that was in progress, in an open garden area, and thereby preserving a piece of London history. As a Londoner that was important to me.”

Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman was delighted to unveil the frieze as part of a public ceremony.

While not in too poor a condition, the Portland stone frieze had been neglected in recent years with undergrowth growing onto the stonework and new cracks appearing. The project included cleaning grout and mortar repairs with a lime-based shelter coat on the whole frieze, this was completed in spring 2025. The setting of the frieze has also been enhanced through improvements to the landscaping which involved the local community.

Islington Council has removed the railings, laid out new plants for the beds and will be working with Heritage of London Trust on an interpretation panel to accompany the frieze.