Bust

05 Croydon - John Locke

Site: Whitgift and others (17 memorials)

CR9, Katharine Street, Croydon Public Library

Built in 1892 by Charles Henman Jr. this heavily decorated group of buildings makes up Croydon's Municipal buildings complex. The building and the roundels are covered at Ornamental Passions. Each of the five bays of the frieze carries three portrait roundels. The names, wreathed in either oak or laurel leaves, are given along the tops of the windows just below the pediments, listed here left to right. Ornamental Passions assumes they are all the work of Edwin Roscoe Mullins who did other work on this part of the building.

You would have thought that by 1892 the spelling of Shakespeare would have been sorted out. But this is not the first time we have seen it as "Shakespere" on buildings around this date. Perhaps it was a nod to the fashion for historical romanticism. Of course, in the 16th century, spelling had not settled down, to the extent that Shakespeare himself was inconsistent. His marriage certificate (necessary because at 18 he was under-age) has his name spelt as Shagspeare, accidentally, we are sure.

Archbishop Tillotson takes pride of place at the centre of these portraits. He was born almost 30 years after Whitgift's death and, like Whitgift, became Archbishop of Canterbury. Other than that we can find no reason for his honoured presence here.

Improbably, "Croydon" derives from the Anglo Saxon for "Crocus Valley" (ref: The Londonist)

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
05 Croydon - John Locke

Subjects commemorated i

John Locke

Philosopher. Born Somerset. Wrote 'An Essay Concerning Human Understanding' a...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
05 Croydon - John Locke

Created by i

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
05 Croydon - John Locke

Also at this site i

Nearby Memorials

John F Kennedy bust - new position

John F Kennedy bust - new position

W1, Great Portland Street, International Students House

First installed on Marylebone Road, vandalism caused this bust to be removed in 2017, cleaned and reinstalled in this foyer in 2019.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Hogarth - Harrow on the Hill

Hogarth - Harrow on the Hill

HA1, Grove Hill, Art School

Looking to connect Hogarth with Harrow we found: c.1800 Crown Street in Harrow was named Hogarth Lane; and Hogarth painted the Graham Chi...

1 subject commemorated
National Portrait Gallery - Clarendon

National Portrait Gallery - Clarendon

WC2, Charing Cross Road

This building, 1896, designed by Ewan Christian, has 18 busts contained in medallions around the top of the facades. Starting at the east...

1 subject commemorated
Roundel 2

Roundel 2

EC2, King Street, 28

These roundels, below the second floor windows, are numbered from the left. Under other windows are: "T. C. C.", "1868", "H.H.". Number ...

A1 - Rubens

A1 - Rubens

W2, Westbourne Grove, 26, HBA

The Bayswater Athenaeum was built in 1863 by architect Arthur Billing of Newman and Billing. The name was originally inscribed in the pan...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator

Previously viewed

Charles Booth - SW7

Charles Booth - SW7

SW7, Grenville Place, 6

London County Council Charles Booth, 1840-1916, pioneer in social research lived here.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator