Keystone

Carpenters' Hall - Wren

Inscription

Wren

Site: Carpenters' Hall - heads (8 memorials)

EC2, London Wall, 1 Throgmorton Avenue

The building projects over the pavement with an arched colonnade for pedestrians. On the keystone of each arch, at the ends and along the length, there is a head in relief. The west side of the building has been joined to the building on the other side of Throgmorton Avenue with a bridge (see the building next door for a picture) and to the south of this bridge the building carries another keystone head. The bridge is a later addition and it seems likely that originally there were still more keystone heads where the bridge now is. Most of the keystones are helpfully inscribed on their underneath with a name identifying their head, but three are anonymous. Reading the photograph from left to right the heads are:
Soane
William of Wykeham
anonymous
anonymous but identified as Inigo Jones
anonymous satyr
Wren
Vanbrugh
Barry

Wren and Vanbrugh could be sharing the same wig. We've spotted that all the identified personages were architects so that narrows the field for the remaining unknown.

Under the bridge is the entrance to the building, around which there are three inscribed stones. Two of these are rather dull:
- a copy of the inscription of the foundation stone for the original building, laid in 1876,
- commemorating the opening of the Hall on 4 May 1960.
The third is the stone recorded here concerning the start of the rebuilding.

Above the door: SVRREXIT DOMVS, MCMLIX. Translation-guide renders this as "To get up household, 1959", but we get the idea.

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Carpenters' Hall - Wren

Subjects commemorated i

Sir Christopher Wren

Born East Knoyle, Wiltshire, died London.  Designer of 54 London churches, o...

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Carpenters' Hall - Wren

Also at this site i

Carpenters' Hall - Inigo Jones

Carpenters' Hall - Inigo Jones

This memorial used to be in Puzzle Corner until walking guide Ian Swankie poi...

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Carpenters' Hall plaque - rebuilding

Carpenters' Hall plaque - rebuilding

The plaque refers to the unveiling day being 'Election Day'. There was no Gen...

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Nearby Memorials

Carpenters' Hall - William of Wykeham

Carpenters' Hall - William of Wykeham

EC2, London Wall, 1 Throgmorton Avenue

The building projects over the pavement with an arched colonnade for pedestrians. On the keystone of each arch, at the ends and along the...

1 subject commemorated
Bennet Woodcroft keystone

Bennet Woodcroft keystone

WC2, Southampton Buildings, Old Patent Office

Damaged in WW2 this building was restored in 2007 to the original design for the facade overlooking Staple Inn garden, at least. We know ...

1 subject commemorated
ICI - 6 - Alfred Mond

ICI - 6 - Alfred Mond

SW1, Millbank, 9, Imperial Chemical House

For an idea of what this area used to be like see this 1894ish map. It was all redeveloped following the 1928 flood. This block was desig...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Carpenters' Hall - Barry

Carpenters' Hall - Barry

EC2, London Wall, 1 Throgmorton Avenue

The building projects over the pavement with an arched colonnade for pedestrians. On the keystone of each arch, at the ends and along the...

1 subject commemorated
Carpenters' Hall - Vanbrugh

Carpenters' Hall - Vanbrugh

EC2, London Wall, 1 Throgmorton Avenue

The building projects over the pavement with an arched colonnade for pedestrians. On the keystone of each arch, at the ends and along the...

1 subject commemorated

Previously viewed

David Lodge

David Lodge

Born Rochester, Kent, Started in show-biz as a clown.  First credited film role was in 1955 Cockleshell Heroes.  Appeared in many films and TV series.  Friend of Peter Sellers and other Goons.  Die...

Person, Cinema

1 memorial
Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury

Singer and songwriter. Born Farrokh or Faroukh Bulsara in Government Hospital, Zanzibar, Tanzania. His family moved to Britain in 1964, settling in Feltham. After graduating from college, he tried ...

Person, Music / songs, Seriously Famous, Africa

3 memorials
Charles Dickens - Museum / Devonshire Terrace

Charles Dickens - Museum / Devonshire Terrace

WC1, Doughty Street, Dickens Museum

LookandLearn has a photo of the building, no.1, before it was demolished. The Dickens relief also commemorates his stay at this address.

1 subject commemorated
Sir John Cam Hobhouse, Bt. PC, GCB

Sir John Cam Hobhouse, Bt. PC, GCB

Born near Bristol. Toured Europe with Lord Byron but then entered politics. Created Baron Broughton 1851. Member of Parliament for Westminster from 1820 to 1833, for Nottingham from 1834 to 1847 &...

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial