Plaque

Caxton Hall - foundation stone

Erection date: 29/3/1882

Inscription

The Town Hall Westminster
This foundation stone was laid March 29th 1882 by the Baroness Burdett-Coutts, youngest daughter of the late Sir Francis Burdett Bart., member of Parliament for this City.
John Harris - Clerk to Vestry and District Board of Works
Lee & Smith - architects
W. & D. McGregor - builders

Site: Caxton Hall (12 memorials)

SW1, Caxton Street, 10, Caxton Hall

The foundation stone is low down at the right hand side of the building. Above each of the two statues is a bust, both of the Greek god variety rather than any particular mortal.

The 8 terracotta portraits, numbered left to right, are above the ground floor windows. We have identified 4 with varying degrees of confidence and we think the others probably include: John Locke, Isaac Newton, John Wesley. But with only hair style, facial hair and collars to go on it's just a guessing game. Have a go, bearing in mind that you are looking for men considered laudable in 1882. And dead - we don't think living men were ever honoured in this way.

Sorry our photos are not too good, but then, we have to say, the terracotta portraits are not the best quality themselves, though not as bad as this one.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

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:
Caxton Hall - foundation stone

Subjects commemorated i

Caxton Hall

Originally designed as the Westminster City Hall. It was associated with the ...

Read More

William Lee and F. J. Smith

Architects active in 1882.

Read More

W. & D. McGregor

Builders active in 1882.

Read More

Sir Francis Burdett

Born Derbyshire. Inherited the baronetcy from his grandfather. Married an hei...

Read More

John Harris

Clerk to Vestry and District Board of Works, Westminster, 1882.

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Caxton Hall - foundation stone

Created by i

Baroness Angela Georgina Burdett-Coutts

One of the great Victorian philanthropists who sought to rid London of its sl...

Read More

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Caxton Hall - foundation stone

Also at this site i

Caxton Hall - head 1 - Milton

Caxton Hall - head 1 - Milton

But look at head 8 too, that's also a candidate for Milton.

Read More

Caxton Hall - head 2 - Caxton

Caxton Hall - head 2 - Caxton

Normally both Chaucer and Caxton are shown with full beards but the facial ha...

Read More

Caxton Hall - head 4 - unidentified

Caxton Hall - head 4 - unidentified

Possibly John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester. His hat is spot on (possibly sta...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Victoria Coach Station

Victoria Coach Station

SW1, Buckingham Palace Road, Victoria Coach Station

Ian Visits gave us the precise date that this station was opened: 10 March 1932.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
St James's Residences

St James's Residences

W1, Brewer Street, 23

St James's Residences stand in an area first known as Knaves Acre. The original 17th century houses and courts survived until demolition...

1 subject commemorated, 3 creators
Savoy Theatre

Savoy Theatre

WC2, Carting Lane, Savoy Theatre

Westminster City Council Savoy Theatre Opened in 1881, the Savoy Theatre was the first public building in the world to be lit throughou...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
St Olave, Silver Street - destroyed

St Olave, Silver Street - destroyed

EC2, Noble Street

We originally questioned the date of this plaque but Melissa Harrison wrote and convinced us that it probably is 17th century.   This rea...

2 subjects commemorated
John Wesley's house - EC1

John Wesley's house - EC1

EC1, City Road

Wesley lived here in the winters from 1779 until his death, here.

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator

Previously viewed

Sophie Hoskins gold post box

Sophie Hoskins gold post box

SW20, Worple Road

{On a brass plaque attached to the box:} This post box has been painted gold by Royal Mail to celebrate Sophie Hosking, Gold Medal winner...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Arthur Waley

Arthur Waley

N6, Southwood Lane, 50

English Heritage Arthur Waley, 1889 - 1966, poet, translator and orientalist, lived and died here.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Royal Military Academy - original plaque

Royal Military Academy - original plaque

SE18, Artillery Square, Academy Performing Arts

Sometime 2011-17 the rather nice yellow plaque was replaced with the bronze rectangle which doesn't look new nor designed for an exterior...

3 subjects commemorated
St Mary Somerset  - Ewan Christian

St Mary Somerset - Ewan Christian

EC4, Lambeth Hill, St Mary's Somerset Church

The dates given on the plaque are about the time that the church ceased functioning and was demolished but we can't explain the exact dates.

2 subjects commemorated
Worcester House

Worcester House

EC4, Riverside Walkway, Fruiterers Passage

The plaque doesn't mention Fruiterers Passage but we believe the unveiling of the plaque coincided with the Passage being opened by the L...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator