Edward Moxhay

Edward Moxhay (1787–1849) was a Victorian shoemaker, biscuit maker and property speculator, best known for his involvement in a landmark English land law case that decided that in certain cases a covenant can "run with the land".

Early life and career Edward Moxhay was born on St David's Hill, Exeter on 8 June 1787, one of seven children of humble parents, Richard Moxhay and Mary Potter. His elder brother Richard Hellings Moxhay was a talented organist and pianist who became a professor of music. Initially Edward followed his father's profession of shoemaker, completing his training in London and, after working for some of the best shoe and bootmakers, around 1810 he took the position of foreman with the firm of Walter and Gresham, leather cutters of Cannon Street. In 1812 he married Phebe Peapes White, the daughter of a Norfolk builder, and started in business on his own in London Wall, later moving to Great Winchester Street and finally to well situated premises at 55 Threadneedle Street. He made a success of this business too and, after forays in the risky shipping world, returned to property speculation.

Hall of Commerce

In 1830 Moxhay embarked on his least successful speculation. In 1829 the site of the former French Protestant Church at 52 Threadneedle Street became available following its demolition to make way for the widening of the street by the City Corporation. Moxhay bought the site and with backers spent £70,000 building a "Hall of Commerce" to his own design. The enormous hall was intended as a meeting place where commercial news could be exchanged, it was a predecessor of the more successful Royal Exchange which opened in 1844. Apart from the grand hall, there was a reading room, a room where commission agents could exhibit their samples, rooms for meetings of creditors and private arbitrations and rooms for the deposit of deeds. But the venture was a financial failure and Moxhay and his backers were forced to reduce the annual subscription from £5 5s. to £1 10s. 6d. From 1855 the building was occupied by a series of banks until its demolition in 1922. Its striking frieze Commerce Welcoming All Nations by the sculptor Musgrave Watson (1804–1847), best known for his bas-relief at the base of Nelson's Column, was saved and relocated to Islington, where it can be seen to this day.

Death The death of his son Charles at Torquay in 1847, combined with his heavy losses from the failure of the Hall of Commerce, blighted the final years of Moxhay's life and it was said that he would spend many hours wandering in Epping Forest dreaming up unrealisable, grandiose schemes. He died heavily in debt at his Stamford Hill home on 19 March 1849 and is buried on the west side of Highgate Cemetery.

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