Bust

Victoria roundel

Victoria roundel Victoria roundel
Inscription

Victoria D.G. Britt. Reg. MDCCCLXXIX

The unabbreviated text would read in Latin: "Victoria dei gratia Britanniarum Regina", which translates as: "Victoria, by the Grace of God, of the Britains Queen, 1879". 1879 was the year in which Victoria celebrated her 60th birthday. But looking at the whole roundel, it is extremely similar to the design of pennies in the latter part of Victoria's reign. However we can't explain what it is doing on this building. We've seen more attractive representations of the old dear. And why is that fishy looking creature going for her jugular?

Site: Victoria roundel (1 memorial)

EC2, London Wall, 66

On each of the four floors of this building are roundels containing reliefs of women's heads, labelled, from the top: America (Native American feathered headdress with stars on the headband), Africa (Egyptian style headdress in the form of a peacock), Asia (headscarf and jewellery in ears and nose), Europe (flowing locks and a rather dull crown) and on the ground floor, Victoria.

Searching for information on this building we came across an interesting site, Distant Writing where we learn that in 1857 Waterlow & Sons, a large firm of law stationers, letterpress and lithographic printers with government contracts, installed the first commercial private telegraph line connecting this address with their offices in Birchin Lane. Waterlow's first occupied this London Wall address in 1845 but we are not certain that the current building is the one that would have been there then, so we are no closer to understanding the decorations on the building.

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Victoria roundel

Subjects commemorated i

Queen Victoria

Reigned: 1837-1901, 64 years. Born Kensington Palace. Daughter of Edward, Duk...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

National Portrait Gallery - Kneller

National Portrait Gallery - Kneller

WC2, Charing Cross Road

This building, 1896, designed by Ewan Christian, has 18 busts contained in medallions around the top of the facades. Starting at the east...

1 subject commemorated
T P O'Connor bust

T P O'Connor bust

EC4, Fleet Street, 78, Chronicle House

{On a plaque below the bust:} T. P. O'Connor, journalist & parliamentarian, 1848 - 1929. His pen could lay bare the bones of a book...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Lord Wolfson bust

Lord Wolfson bust

WC1, Queen Square, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery

The Leonard Wolfson Experimental Neurology Centre is located in the hospital behind the bust. Opened 15 November 2013 this was funded by ...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
National Portrait Gallery - Walpole

National Portrait Gallery - Walpole

WC2, Charing Cross Road

This building, 1896, designed by Ewan Christian, has 18 busts contained in medallions around the top of the facades. Starting at the east...

1 subject commemorated
Bermondsey Library - 4 - Milton

Bermondsey Library - 4 - Milton

SE16, Spa Road, Old Bermondsey Library / Kagyu Samye Dzong Buddhist centre

The busts are on the keystones of the library first floor window arches, numbered left to right.  Ornamental Passions has posted about th...

1 subject commemorated