Bust

Bust in Stratford - Beethoven

Researching this bust we failed to ID the man, and worse, we discovered that there was another bust on the building, obliterated by the 1933 remodelling of the corner, for which we can't even find a close-up picture.

Immediately after we'd published, Diane Burstein told us that Pevsner’s Guide to East London identifies this bust as Beethoven. Of course it is - now we know we can see the likeness. Pevsner was researching and writing his guides after the 1930s so he would not have seen the lost bust. The full name of the theatre was Borough Theatre and Opera House so perhaps the other bust represented Mozart.

Site: Bust in Stratford - Beethoven (1 memorial)

E15, Stratford High Street, 361, Borough Theatre

This huge theatre was built by Albert Fredericks, who had bought the nearby Theatre Royal only 10 years earlier. The Borough, designed by Frank Matcham, was erected in 1895, in Jacobean style. Its street frontage is presented as a terrace of buildings with varied designs. We believe the theatre building includes the seven bays in our photo which are to the right of the pair of terracotta-coloured bays with twin pediments. Viewing the block from the back it is clearer that this was all built as one building. The two left-most bays of the theatre (the white building and the one with the white stripes at the top) remain as frontage only - the buildings behind were the stage house and dressing room block, demolished c.1996.

This information comes from the marvellous Arthur Lloyd which gives a good history of the theatre and also has a number of images. This bust can be seen in some of them and it looks as if there was another similar bust on the corner frontage which was 'modernised' in 1933 when the theatre was converted into the Rex cinema.

Above the bust, on the set back attic level facade, is a frieze with "Borough Theatre" in large type. Another old postcard at Theatres Trust gives a better view of the now-lost corner frontage. At 2nd floor level "Borough Theatre" was presented a second time, and at attic level, in line with the parapet, across the front of the corner turret: "Fredericks". The Fredericks family's management of the Borough only ceased in 1933 so the obliteration of their name by the cinema's facade is appropriate.

British History On-line was another source of information for this entry.

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:
Bust in Stratford - Beethoven

Subjects commemorated i

Ludwig van Beethoven

Composer. Born (we only have his baptism date) in Bonn (now Germany). His nin...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Marc Bolan shrine - bust

Marc Bolan shrine - bust

SW13, Queen's Ride

Unveiled by Rolan Bolan, Marc's son, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Bolan's death. Paid for personally by Fee Warner.

1 subject commemorated, 3 creators
Old Westminster Library - head 1 - Spenser

Old Westminster Library - head 1 - Spenser

SW1, Great Smith Street

We first thought Francis Bacon but he normally has more hair, and, so far, all the heads are literary rather than scientific.

1 subject commemorated
William Vincent

William Vincent

SW1, Vincent Square, Junction with Hatherley Street

The terracotta plaque and Nabresina stone tablet, were commissioned by the residents' association to commemorate the bicentenary of the a...

2 subjects commemorated, 2 creators
Greenwich roundels - Rodney

Greenwich roundels - Rodney

SE10, King William Walk, Discover Greenwich (Royal Naval College, Pepys Building)

The roundels on the north, river-facing, frontage are occupied by, left to right: Anson, Drake, Cook, Howard, Blake, Benbow, Sandwich, Ro...

1 subject commemorated
Keats House at Guy's - bust 1 - William Harvey

Keats House at Guy's - bust 1 - William Harvey

SE1, St Thomas Street, 24-26, Keats House

The collar, the hair-line, the facial growths - we hope you agree that this is Harvey.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator

Previously viewed

Admiral Edward Russell

Admiral Edward Russell

WC2, King Street, 43, Thomas Archer House

In 1714 Russell was appointed First Lord of the Admiralty and that year he commissioned this house at 43 King Street from the architect T...

1 subject commemorated
Elizabeth Rusbridge (Gibbs)

Elizabeth Rusbridge (Gibbs)

Secretary and vice-president of the Old Greys' Association and pupil at the Grey Coat Hospital, 1933 - 1940.  We take Gibbs to be her maiden name.

Person, Friend / family

1 memorial
Heath & (Old) Hampstead Society / Hampstead Plaque Fund

Heath & (Old) Hampstead Society / Hampstead Plaque Fund

The Hampstead Plaque fund was set up, many years ago, by Ralph Wade and has been administered by the Society ever since.

Group, Community / Clubs, History

40 memorials
Spitalfields Market - Horner - finished

Spitalfields Market - Horner - finished

E1, Lamb Street, Spitalfields Market - Horner Buildings

Odd use of English, using the passive to force the subject to be the market rather than Horner. 

2 subjects commemorated
The Blackheath Society

The Blackheath Society

Group that works with local councils, residents, other amenity groups, traders, the police, the Boundary Commission, English Heritage, the Blackheath Joint Working Party and everyone else who can i...

Group, Community / Clubs

2 memorials