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

Southall rail crash - names

Southall rail crash - names

UB2, Merrick Road, Memorial Garden

July 2023 - We have now visited the site 3 times, but on each occasion the garden has been padlocked. We found the two other memorials cl...

8 subjects commemorated
Frederick Handley Page

Frederick Handley Page

W1, Grosvenor Square, 18

2019: Homes and Property report that the third floor "apartment was bought as a pied à terre in 1946 by Sir Frederick Handley Page" ... I...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
ATC 296 (Stoke Newington) WW2

ATC 296 (Stoke Newington) WW2

N16, Lavell Street

At the War Memorials Register we learn that, since we visited, laminated signs have been attached to the cages around the 13 trees, givin...

War dead | WW2
15 subjects commemorated, 2 creators
Don Cook

Don Cook

NW5, Leighton Road, Kennistoun House

In memory of Don Cook & the rent battles of 1959 - 1964.

1 subject commemorated
Sir James MacKenzie

Sir James MacKenzie

W1, Bentinck Street, 17

College of General Practitioners Sir James MacKenzie F.R.S., 1853 - 1925, physician, lived and worked here, 1907 - 1911.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator

Previously viewed

New River mosaic

New River mosaic

N1, Packington Street, Islington Green School

This mosaic mural is quite a success, with the pair of compasses disgorging the fish into the pond at the right, and James's golden crown...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator