High up on a shop in Drury Lane is a Mercers' Maiden, marking the property (or former property) of the Mercers' Company.She first appeared on a company seal of 1425, but the guild does not know who she is or why she was chosen as their emblem. Entertainingly, she is often depicted in the latest fashion of the day, though whether such a revealing blouse was acceptable in London society in early Victorian times when this shop was built is another matter.
Thanks to Steve James for the gen on Mercers' Maidens - I will be looking out for more of them.
She's one of the Mercer's Maidens, on a lot of the buildings around in. Placed by the Mercer's Livery COmpany to show the ownership of their land. If you look around the streets behind this building, particularly up Dryden and Arne Street you'll find loads more. And pics of most of them appear on Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/castrovalva/3644147872/
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