Liberty's Weathervane - Great Marlborough Street, London, UK - Unique Weathervanes on Waymarking.com

The weathervane is coloured gold and glistens when the sun catches it. It is supposed to represent the 'Mayflower' that left England in 1620 bound for America. The nautical theme does not end there as the timbers from two war ships were used in the building's construction.

The building is Grade II* listed and the entry at the English Heritage website [visit link ] tells us about the building and makes mention of the weathervane:

"Department store. 1922-1924 by Edwin T. Hall and E. Stanley Hall, with bridge connecting to Regent Street store added in 1925, further bridge added 1974 by William Holford and Partners and other minor late C20 alterations. Tudor Arts and Crafts style, reusing timber from the breaking up of two early C19 "men of war" sailing ships, HMS Hindustan and HMS Impregnable. The block facing Great Marlborough Street and Little Marlborough Street is timber framed and also has stone cladding, tiled roofs and clustered moulded brick chimneystacks. Rear elevation clad in white brick. 4 storeys, and gabled attics. Long range with close set mullioned and transomed leaded casements to upper floors, some of Sparrows House Ipswich type with some stained glass pictorial cames. Gables have decorative bargeboads and there are elaborate balconies. Centrepiece with main entrance has corbelled canted bays surmounted by overhanging gables. Central gable has weathervane with gilded model of the Mayflower. Flat-headed display windows with leaf decoration. Decorative lead rainwater heads. Left side door to Great Marlborough Street elevation has deep relief carving of craftsmen at work above. Left side elevation has two timberframed bays and left side stone clad staircase tower with Tudor-arched doorcase to ground floor. 1925 link bridge of three storeys is clad in stone to two lower storeys and has a timberframed gable above. Ground floor has giant elliptical arch. First floor has clock designed by Mr Hope Jones, Chairman of the British Horological Institution. Forming the spandrels of the clock face are four winged heads representing the four winds. The crowing cock and rising sun symbolise morning; an owl and moon the night time. At the chiming of the hour moving figures of St George and the dragon would fight. Plain 1974 link bridge behind. Late C20 corrugated roof extension to part of the Great Marlborough Street elevation not of special interest."

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