The Exchange, Bristol

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The Exchange (grid reference ST588730) is a Grade I listed building dating from the 18th Century in Bristol. It was previously used as a corn and general trade exchange, however is now used as offices and St Nicholas Market. It is on Corn Street, near the junction with Broad Street.

Contents 1 History 2 The Nails 3 Clock 4 References

[edit] History

The Exchange was built in 1741–43 by John Wood the Elder, with carvings by Thomas Paty. The courtyard was raised and roofed in 1872 by EM Barry, although replaced with the current roof in 1949.^[1]

Despite its name it was intended for merchants of all types and a number directly involved in the Guinea and West Indian slave trade used it for business transactions. Inside the Corn Exchange the plasterwork in the main hall represents the four corners of the world, including Africa and America, the latter wearing a head-dress of tobacco leaves. On the outside of the building are carvings of African, American, Asian and European figures and animals, again symbols of Bristol's foreign trade.^[2]

[edit] The Nails

Four brass tables are located outside the exchange on Corn Street, probably modelled after mobile tables which were taken to trade fairs and markets. Before the Corn Exchange was built in the 18th Century, the tables — called nails — were located in the Tolzey Walk. This covered area was along the south wall of All Saints Church, which remains as a narrow lane giving access to commercial premises.

The brass nails, with their flat tops and raised edges which prevent coins from tumbling onto the pavement, were made as convenient tables for merchants to carry out their business. The oldest pillar is undated, but experts say it is late Elizabethan. The second oldest was given by Bristol merchant Robert Kitchen, who died in 1594. The two remaining nails are dated 1625 and 1631.^[3]

The four nails were made at different times, and this is reflected in their varying designs. One of the nails bears the name John Barker on its rim. Barker was a wealthy merchant who owned houses and storehouses on the Quay, in Wine Street and in Small Street. He was Mayor during the reign of Charles I and represented Bristol in the 1623 Parliament.^[4]

Deals could be closed by payment on the nails — the popularly supposed origin of the saying ’pay on the nail’ or 'cash on the nail'.^[5][6] However, this origin of the term is disputed.^[7]

[edit] Clock

Before the arrival of the railways there was no practical way of communicating information about time over a distance. When the telegraph made such communication possible, it became necessary for people living in one area to agree that they would not keep their own local time, but would all keep a time based on the local standard meridian. Bristol is at 2º 35' West of Greenwich, so when it is noon in Bristol is just past 10 past noon (twelve) in London; therefore, the clock over the old Corn Exchange in Bristol has two minute hands. The black minute hand shows Greenwich Mean Time and the red minute hand shows Bristol time.^[8]

[edit] References