Other

Barbican frieze

Erection date: 1975

Inscription

{On a plaque to the right of the frieze:}
This frieze was removed from numbers 53 and 54 Barbican when it was demolished in 1962 and re-erected by the Corporation of London in 1975. Numbers 53 and 54 Barbican were the premises of W. Bryer & Sons, gold refiners and assayers whose trade is depicted in the frieze. The building was one of the few which survived when the area was largely destroyed by incendiary bombs in December 1940.

Our photo shows just one section of the frieze which covers the full width of this structure, behind the word "Barbican".

Site: Fann Street corner (2 memorials)

EC1, Aldersgate Street

For 56 years this junction had a substantial drinking fountain on the south-east corner (pictured), but now has a plaque on the west side commemorating that fountain, and this south-east corner displays a frieze rescued from the buildings demolished to make way for the Barbican.

In this section Aldersgate Street is effectively a dual-carriageway, which we're sure it was not in 1878, or even in 1934.  This excessive road widening probably happened when the Barbican was built.

A London Inheritance looks at the history of this street.

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Barbican frieze

Subjects commemorated i

World War 2

Sorry, we've done no research on WW2, it's just too big a subject. But do vis...

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W. Bryer & Sons

Gold refiners and assayers who occupied 53 and 54 Barbican. One of the few b...

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This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Barbican frieze

Created by i

Corporation of the City of London

The municipal governing body of the City of London. Officially the 'Mayor and...

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Barbican frieze

Also at this site i

Besley memorial fountain - lost

Besley memorial fountain - lost

This drinking fountain was erected in 1878 in memory of Robert Besley, who ha...

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Nearby Memorials

Tinworth pillar

Tinworth pillar

SE11, Kennington Park Road, Kennington Park

On a nearby information board: "Tinworth Fountain - This was once a large ornamental fountain that stood in a panelled garden close to to...

3 creators
Queen Elizabeth's Oak

Queen Elizabeth's Oak

SE10, Greenwich Park

The old tree is presumably gradually being decomposed by beetles and the like. The new tree may be the one to the far right of our picture.

4 subjects commemorated, 2 creators
RNH - mosaic

RNH - mosaic

N7, Manor Gardens, Royal Northern Gardens

The new RNH Casualty Department, funded by the Islington War Memorial Fund, was opened in 1923 and closed in 1992 along with the rest of ...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Start of the third Millennium in Belgrave Square

Start of the third Millennium in Belgrave Square

SW1, Belgrave Square

The poetry is from "Auguries of Innocence" by William Blake.For other armillary spheres see Wolff.

2 subjects commemorated, 2 creators
Sante Maria weather vane

Sante Maria weather vane

WC2, Temple Place, 2

Made of beaten copper.  War-damaged in 1944 it was restored and re-erected in 1950.

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators