Workmen help to reinstall the statue of Mercury on its perch above the pond in Christ Church Tom Quad. – Vintage Photograph

After an absence that began in June, workmen help to reinstall the statue of Mercury at Christ Church Tom Quad. The 3 cwt. statue was found nose-down in the pond with its ankle and elbow injured, leaving the question of whether it fell or was pushed unanswered. The present statue is a replica of the original, which met a similar fate in 1817. The reappearance of the statue has also marked the return of its namesake, Mercurius Oxoniensis, who had suspended his column in the Spectator until the statue was reinstated.After an absence that began in June, workmen help to reinstall the statue of Mercury at Christ Church Tom Quad. The 3 cwt. statue was found nose-down in the pond with its ankle and elbow injured, leaving the question of whether it fell or was pushed unanswered. The present statue is a replica of the original, which met a similar fate in 1817. The reappearance of the statue has also marked the return of its namesake, Mercurius Oxoniensis, who had suspended his column in the Spectator until the statue was reinstated.

Dimensions: 22.8 x 30 cm

IMS SKU: SCAN-NQOX-04903961

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OCR computer generated text:

84 6661 Nnr 6 L colleges Christ Church. Mercury returns to his perch, Mercury the winged mes- senger, is back on his granite perch ebove the goldfish en Christ Church’s pond Tom Quad. He is seen here being Felped up by work- men last Friday. His latest absence began last Jane when the 3cwt. statue was feund nose down in the water His ankle and elbow were injured and the 01 sa 0 FACES question still remains: did he fall or was he pushed? The present statue is a replica of the original (which met a similar fate in 1817) and was presented in 1928. Mercury’s reappearance has also meant the reappearance in print of his namesake Mercurius Oxoniensis, who suspended his column in the Spectator until the statue was reinstated. 072 1261 83361 2 Oxford University Colleges. Christ Church