Bust

12 Croydon - Lord Tennyson

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:
12 Croydon - Lord Tennyson

Subjects commemorated i

Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Poet Laureate. Born Lincolnshire. Wrote 'Morte d'Arthur' (1859-85) about King...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
12 Croydon - Lord Tennyson

Created by i

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
12 Croydon - Lord Tennyson

Also at this site i

Nearby Memorials

Wimbledon Library - Shakespeare

Wimbledon Library - Shakespeare

SW19, Wimbledon Hill Road, Wimbledon Library

Shakespeare to the left, Milton to the right.

1 subject commemorated
Viscount Sherbrooke bust

Viscount Sherbrooke bust

SW1, St Margaret Street, St Margarets Church

We again thank David Hopkins for the Latin transcription (from some tortuous Gothic lettering) and translation. We've searched but the r...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Colonial Office - B04 - Sinclair

Colonial Office - B04 - Sinclair

SW1, Whitehall, Foreign Office

When we published we wrote: "Who is this man? His identity escapes both us and Hither and Thither. A politician from the 18th century (fr...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Morley Mosaics - KEW - Annie McCall

Morley Mosaics - KEW - Annie McCall

SE1, King Edward Walk, Morley College

These 10 portrait mosaics are the result of a project by Morley College to celebrate the achievements of significant women who have lived...

1 subject commemorated, 3 creators
Sir Joshua Reynolds bust

Sir Joshua Reynolds bust

WC2, Leicester Square

All four of the Leicester Square busts were removed in the 2010-12 redesign of the Square - see (Hogarth bust for more information.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator

Previously viewed

King Cadwaladr

King Cadwaladr

King of the Britons. Born Wales, father of Cadwaladr ap Cadwallon (king of Gwynedd in Wales c.655-682). Legend says that he built the first St Martin within Ludgate church, that his image was place...

Person, Royalty, Wales

3 memorials
M. Sexton
War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Little Whig

Little Whig

WC1, Bedford Row, 42

These two houses now seem to have a single address and, like most of the street, are occupied by lawyers. We asked at reception for info...

1 subject commemorated