Coade and the Marine Society.

 

The  Marine Society.

Instituted 1756, by Fowler Walker, Esq., Sir John Fielding, and Jonas Hanway, for the purpose of fitting out beggar-boys and others for service at sea. 

This Society places out annually from 500 to 600 boys, principally in the merchant service.  A yearly subscription of 2 guineas or of 12 guineas at one time constitutes a governor. The present house was built for the Society in 1774.

By 1774, the Society had outgrown its offices in the Royal Exchange and relocated to 54, Bishopsgate Street. The Society moved to Clark's Place Bishopsgate in 1891.

Jonas Hanway a founder of the Marine Society, he was governor and eventually the vice-president of the Foundling Hospital, and helped to establish the Magdalen Hospital for Penitent Prostitutes. He also supported the Stepney Society, which apprencticed poor boys to marine trades, and the Troop Society which provided clothing to British soldiers.

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The Coade Statue of Charity with a Boy.

Indented Coade Lambeth 1793.

Height 130cms - 50 inches.

Probably modelled by John Bacon.

Removed from a property in Hampstead, London

Sold by Cheffins, Auctioneers, lot 691, 26 March 2026.

purchased by a private collector and currently awaiting restoration.

Images below from the copy of the Coade Catalogue of  1784 in the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris

available on line at

https://bibliotheque-numerique.inha.fr/viewer/35774/?offset=#page=5&viewer=picture&o=bookmark&n=0&q=

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54 Bishopsgate Street

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1880-1113-3920

The Marine Society Bishopsgate Chimneypiece.

Currently with Wick Antiques.

Detailed minutes of the weekly Committee meetings describe the furnishing of the Society’s new Committee Room, including ‘a carved chimneypiece’, ‘the cost not to exceed £36’.  The final sum paid to a Mr Tousey (Mr Touzey) was £30. 15s. 6d.

This chimneypiece was ordered by the Marine Society in April of 1775 “the cost not to exceed £36”. The chimneypiece was the centrepiece of the Committee Room at 54 Bishopsgate and when the Society moved to different premises in Clarks Place, Bishopsgate in 1891 the chimneypiece was transferred to the new building. It remained the property of the Society until acquired by Wick Antiques.

https://wickantiques.co.uk/product/a-george-iii-carved-pine-chimneypiece-from-the-marine-society-by-tousey-1775/

https://wickantiques.co.uk/publications/a-quite-remarkable-carved-pine-chimneypiece-or-fireplace-surround-adorned-with-maritime-themed-decoration-made-for-the-offices-of-the-marine-society-in-bishopsgate-in-1775-by-the-great-carver/

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https://sothebys-com.brightspotcdn.com/e0/ea/40691c6f496796b88d60bbee7d42/treasures-l21303-final-low-res.pdf