Bust

11 Croydon - Shakspere

Site: Whitgift and others (17 memorials)

CR9, Katharine Street, Croydon Public Library

Built in 1892 by Charles Henman Jr. this heavily decorated complex of buildings makes up Croydon's Town Hall. 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:
11 Croydon - Shakspere

Subjects commemorated i

William Shakespeare

Born and died in Stratford-upon-Avon. His birth date is usually given as the ...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
11 Croydon - Shakspere

Created by i

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
11 Croydon - Shakspere

Also at this site i

Nearby Memorials

Old Westminster Library - head 5 - Milton

Old Westminster Library - head 5 - Milton

SW1, Great Smith Street

The hair seems a bit too curly but the sad eyes are right.

1 subject commemorated
Bermondsey Library - 5 - unknown

Bermondsey Library - 5 - unknown

SE16, Spa Road, Old Bermondsey Library / Kagyu Samye Dzong Buddhist centre

The weather has removed all the hair and costume details which are essential for any chance of identifying the person represented. Chauc...

Colonial Office - B10 - Edward the Confessor

Colonial Office - B10 - Edward the Confessor

SW1, Whitehall, Foreign Office

Statues Hither and Thither has been invaluable in identifying some of the busts and most of the statues. The statues are not labelled and...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
RIPWC - Girtin

RIPWC - Girtin

W1, Piccadilly, 192-196

The building by E. R. Robson was erected for the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colour, founded in 1831 (the crest in the centre of...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Kilburn head - 1 - Mozart

Kilburn head - 1 - Mozart

NW6, Kilburn High Road, 70-72 Traid

We've numbered these heads left to right and identified them ourselves. Do let us know if you think otherwise. The building is very plain...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator

Previously viewed

C. E. Smale

C. E. Smale

Co-partner or employee of the South Suburban Gas Company. Served but did not die in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial
Richard Everitt - stone

Richard Everitt - stone

NW1, Purchese Street, Purchese Street Open Space

This is the plaque that was first erected nearby.

1 subject commemorated
Mrs Jemima Luke

Mrs Jemima Luke

Writer of hymns and religious studies. Born Jemima Thompson in Islington. She planned to do missionary work in India, but illness prevented her from doing so. She married the Reverend Samuel Luke, ...

Person, Literature, Music / songs, Religion

1 memorial
Corporal Albert Lancelot Haley

Corporal Albert Lancelot Haley

Albert Lancelot Haley was born on 11 October 1882, a son of James Alexander Haley (1828-1902) and Emma Haley née Harrison (1842-1913). His birth was registered in the 4th quarter of 1882 in the Kin...

Person, Armed Forces, Transport, France

War dead, WW1
1 memorial