Relief

Chiswell Archer

Site: Chiswell Archer (1 memorial)

EC1, Chiswell Street, 14-20, Longbow House

In 1315 a large area known as Bunhill Fields was leased to the City of London, probably to be used, amongst other things, for archery practice.  Eventually about two square miles of Islington fields were turned into the archery equivalent of a golf course with 194 targets.

In 1498, as the musket replaced the longbow, part of this area was made into an artillery ground. The Honourable Artillery Company still occupies the land it was granted then, north of this, 1950s-60s, building.  Its designers have referred back to the archery history with this bold, primitive relief.

We were lucky enough to be able to visit the Honourable Artillery Company on a recent open day and inside their Armoury House there is an interestingly battered stone with a nearby plaque: "This ancient mark or Rover is one of a number of similar stones used by the HAC for archery from 1537 to 1792 and which formerly extended from the Artillery Ground to Islington Common. It was removed to this spot from the wall near the Canal Bridge in the New North Road, 26th July 1881." And nearby is a small framed map, showing the location of the 'similar stones' and the measurements between them. A caption reads "This plan shows the position of the ancient stone shooting marks which formerly extended from the Artillery Ground to Islington Common, the last of which, bearing the inscription "Scarlet", was removed from the wall near the Canal Bridge in the New North Road and erected at the Armoury House, 26 July 1881."

We believe this area was known as the Finsbury Marks. See The Company of Roving Archers and the Bowyers Company which has a whole page on the history.

Longbow House was designed by Joseph & F. Milton Cashmore & Partners in the 1950s. We cannot identify the sculptor.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Chiswell Archer

Subjects commemorated i

Archery practice

From the Norman period, at least, until the introduction of firearms in the 1...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Sun Fire Office

Sun Fire Office

EC3, Cornhill

Around the top are some delightful reliefs in iron of the badges of early fire insurance companies: Sun, Phoenix, London and Royal Exchan...

1 subject commemorated
Broadway Palace development - Tooting - Industry

Broadway Palace development - Tooting - Industry

SW17, Mitcham Road, 22, (26, 28), 30, all on west side

This 1940-67 NLS map shows a 'picture theatre (disused)' at number 24 (now flat-fronted post-war shops), and at Cinema Treasures we found...

1 subject commemorated
Sir Jacob Epstein - Roper's Garden

Sir Jacob Epstein - Roper's Garden

SW3, Old Church Street, Roper’s Garden

The text is inscribed on the reverse of the relief.

2 subjects commemorated, 3 creators
Tyburn Convent - relief

Tyburn Convent - relief

W2, Bayswater Road

There is a better picture at Flickr - we're not proud. Note the Tyburn tree at the left and the convent roof at the right. Seems likely...

2 subjects commemorated
Covent Garden Market

Covent Garden Market

WC2, Southampton Street, Jubilee Market Hall

Large bronze relief "Fruit Porter Bronze", unveiled October 2006 by Mayor of Westminster. Commissioned by Worshipful Company of Fruiterer...

28 subjects commemorated, 2 creators