Plaque

Bush House - US Presidents, possibly

Inscription

{In the frieze below the statues' feet (annoyingly outside our photo)}:
To the friendship of English-speaking peoples

Our photos was taken during a 2018 exhibition 'The Classical Now' during which these two muscle-men came over all modest.

The 2 huge figures are Youth by Malvina Hoffman (American), 1919, to symbolise the friendship between Britain and USA, the "friendship of the English-speaking peoples". The inscription was appropriate for an Anglo-American trading centre but not for the BBC World Service which famously broadcasts in many languages.

On a visit to Bush House in 2008 we were told that the names of some US presidents are carved behind the figures high on the facade facing up Kingsway and there were photos displayed on the stairwell which supposedly showed the names being carved, but we have found no further evidence. Londonist even have a photo of the statues from behind (how do they get this access?) but no names are visible.Unless someone can help we will have to assume that we were given faulty information.

Site: Bush House (2 memorials)

WC2, Aldwych, Bush House

In our photo the blue plaque is immediately to the left of the left-most traffic lights.

The Bush House complex consists of this central building and a number of wings (at least 5). Built in the 1920s by American businessman, Irving T. Bush, it was designed in 1919 by Harvey W. Corbett, and conceived as a centre for international trade but also for sports, leisure, entertainment and cultural events. The whole complex was not completed until 1935.

The building was opened by Lord Balfour (ex-Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary) on 4 July 1925, American Independence Day. It was the home of BBC World Service from 1940 - 2012, when they moved to New Broadcasting House in Portland Place. Kings College London moved into Bush House in 2016.

To find out more about the spectacular statuary see Ornamental Passions where you will also find some great photos. The BBC page about this building is a good source, as is King's College.

Eagle Hut was on this site before Bush House. And before that? London's great guide, Peter Berthoud, has a page about this area before it was developed: early photos and a map showing the old higgledy-piggledy streets.

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Bush House - US Presidents, possibly

Also at this site i

Bush House

Bush House

BBC - Bush House International radio, television and online content made here...

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Nearby Memorials

Church House WC1 - building

Church House WC1 - building

WC1, Wakefield Street, United Reformed Church Trust

The blue plaque is on the site of number 13, now the United Reformed Church Trust’s UK headquarters. The other two plaques are inside, in...

2 subjects commemorated
Rudolf Nureyev

Rudolf Nureyev

W8, Victoria Road, 27

Rudolf Nureyev, 1938 - 1993, ballet dancer, lived here. English Heritage

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Holy Trinity Sloane Square - Cadogan

Holy Trinity Sloane Square - Cadogan

SW1, Sloane Street

Neither of these plaques can be seen in our photo. They are arranged symmetrically low down on either side of the entrance: Cadogan to th...

5 creators
Waltham Forest College military trainees

Waltham Forest College military trainees

E17, Forest Road, 707

The plaques are just visible in our photo, to the left of the third column from the right. This was built as the South West Essex Techni...

3 subjects commemorated
Emily Wilding Davison - Palace of Westminster

Emily Wilding Davison - Palace of Westminster

SW1, Abington Street, House of Commons, Chapel of St Mary Undercroft

See Davison's page for an explanation of this plaque. While still thinking about how to arrange a 'site visit' to capture this important...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator