A life-size statue of Isaac Watts carrying a book in his left hand. Around the plinth three relief sculpted panels in marble. The eastern panel shows Watts seated, his chin resting on his left hand, surrounded by a telescope, a globe and parchment scrolls, denoting his interest in astronomy and the world. The south panel shows Watts as the teacher surrounded by five children. The west panel shows Watts seated at a desk, his right hand resting on an open book. Isaac Watts was born in Above Bar Street, Southampton, in a house which became the first meeting place of the Above Bar church. His father, also Isaac, had been jailed twice for his non-conformist beliefs and when a prominent townsman offered to pay for an Oxford education for the young Isaac, it was turned down.