This object is the remains of a 2,000 year-old Roman plinth which was found in the grounds of Cavendish House on Clapham Common South Side in 1912. It was presented to the Old Clapham Library, now Omnibus by Councillor E. J. Golds.
The plinth, which is limestone, is a memorial stone believed to date from the first century AD.
The Latin inscription reads:
Vitus Licinius Ascanius
To the spirits of the departed and to Vitus Licinius Ascanius; he made this for himself in his own lifetime.
From Clapham Society: "It had been found in 1777 in the foundations of a building in the Tower of London. How, when and why it came to Clapham is not known; but it was discovered in the grounds of Cavendish House on South Side, when that house was being demolished and the site developed. The developer, EJ Golds, a member of Wandsworth Borough Council, presented the stone to the Library. The Latin inscription is now almost illegible: but it translates as: ‘To the spirits of the departed and of Titus Licinius Ascanius; he made this for himself in his lifetime.’"
By 2018 the stone was smothered by foliage. Google street view from May 2015 shows it, a white stone object, just behind the pavement railings near the entrance. Living London has a good photo of the stone. That image also shows that the tree has grown very fast in the three years between that image and our photo. Now (2024) it's huge, and probably needs a prune.
The Listing entry has another photo and describes the stone as "Inscribed Roman Altar stone discovered during building operations at Clapham Common South Side, 1912. Erected by Vitus Ticinius Ascanius, probably first century."
Site: Old Clapham Library (4 memorials)
SW4, Clapham Common Northside, 1
From Clapham Society: The architect of this library was "Edward Blakeway I’Anson .. who had grown up in Clapham. The builder was the local firm of Charles Kynoch and Co, and the cost, including purchase of the land, £3,865. Another £1,000 was spent on fittings and furniture. The Library was opened on 31 October 1889 by Sir John Lubbock, Vice-chairman of the London County Council, and an enthusiastic advocate of free libraries."
Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of plaquesoflondon.co.uk
Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them