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Threadneedle Street / Royal Exchange Buildings (EC3)
( Royal Exchange)

Three Merchants

Sir Hugh Myddelton - Richard Whittington - Richard Whittington

Various sculptors
1844-45

Description

The Royal Exchange building, designed by William Tite, consists of a four-sided structure surrounding a central courtyard where merchants and tradesmen could do business. It features pediment sculptures by Richard Westmacott (the younger), and ornamental cast ironwork by Henry Grissell's Regent's Canal Ironworks. It was opened by Queen Victoria on 28 October 1844, though trading did not commence until 1 January 1845.
In the north and east façades are niches with stone statues of important merchants:

Sir Hugh Myddelton (or Myddleton) (Denbigh 1560 - London 1631), Welsh clothmaker, entrepreneur, mine-owner, goldsmith, banker and self-taught engineer (Wikipedia).
Sculptor: Samuel Joseph (signed: s. joseph sculpt).
Richard Whittington (Pauntley, Gloucestershire, c. 1354 - London 1423), merchant and a politician; Lord Mayor of London, member of parliament and sheriff of London (Wikipedia).
Sculptor: John Carew Facing east, in the tower:
Richard Whittington (London c. 1519 - London 1579), English merchant and financier; founded of the Royal Exchange (Wikipedia).
Sculptor: William Behnes

For sculptures on the Royal Exchange, see also the Pediment and the Gresham Grasshopper.

London - Three Merchants
1
2
3

Sculptors

William Behnes (1795 - 1864), English sculptor (Wikipedia).
John Edward Carew (Tramore c. 1785 - 1868), Irish sculptor (Wikipedia).
Samuel Joseph (1791-1850) British sculptor (Wikipedia).

Sources & Information

Wikipedia, List of public art in the City of London.
Wikipedia, Royal Exchange, London.
Peter Matthews, London's Statues and Monuments (Botley: Shire, 2012), p. 89.
The Victorian Web, The Royal Exchange.

Locatie (N 51°30'49" - W 0°5'13") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: gblo161; Photograph: 8 August 2014
Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
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© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt