Tuesday 9 June 2009

Royal Arcade, Old Bond Street W1

The Royal Arcade was built in 1879 as plain old The Arcade, as recorded on the pediment at the top, becoming 'Royal' when the shirtmaker W.H. Brettell was patronised by Queen Victoria.
It was designed in a rather jolly Victorian classical style by Archer & Green, with a bunch of standard Imperial sculpture on the front.
To left and right are Peace and Plenty, Peace being denoted cherubs bearing doves and laurels, and Plenty by cherubs carrying a cornucopia and a sheaf of wheat. I love his hat with its jaunty little ribbon.
The pediment in the centre is held up by four caryatids dressed as Asia, Europe, America and Africa.

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