Bust

Caxton Hall - head 2 - Caxton

Normally both Chaucer and Caxton are shown with full beards but the facial hair on head number 6 looks slightly more like Chaucer's, which leaves this as Caxton. And we found one image of him beardless at Tenanbaum.

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 - head 2 - Caxton

Subjects commemorated i

William Caxton

Probably born Tenterden, Kent. Printer, in 1474, producing the first book pr...

Read More

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Caxton Hall - head 2 - Caxton

Also at this site i

Caxton Hall - foundation stone

Caxton Hall - foundation stone

The Town Hall Westminster This foundation stone was laid March 29th 1882 by t...

Read More

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 4 - unidentified

Caxton Hall - head 4 - unidentified

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

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Robert Peel - Embankment

Robert Peel - Embankment

SW1, Victoria Embankment, New Scotland Yard

The Peelian principles summarise the ideas that Sir Robert Peel developed to define an ethical police force. The approach expressed in th...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Heathcoat House

Heathcoat House

W1, Savile Row, 20

20 Savile Row is the address of the building but the plaque is actually around the corner in New Burlington Street. An insurance map of ...

1 subject commemorated
Hoe Street - medallion of a man with a hat

Hoe Street - medallion of a man with a hat

E17, Hoe Street, 105

This shop front has, like a lot of shop fronts of this period, atop the flanking pillars, decorative capitals and corbels.  On this shop ...

Bermondsey Library - 5 - unknown

Bermondsey Library - 5 - unknown

SE16, Spa Road, Old Bermondsey Library / Kagyu Samye Dzong Buddhist centre

The weather has removed all the hair and costume details which are essential for any chance of identifying the person represented. Chauc...

John Donne bust

John Donne bust

EC4, St Paul's Churchyard

The poetry on the base of the statue is from Donne’s 1613 poem ‘Good Friday—Riding Westward’. That on the shoulder is from 'A Letter to ...

1 subject commemorated, 4 creators

Previously viewed

TAG (T-Rex Action Group)

TAG (T-Rex Action Group)

TAG is the legal leaseholder of the site of the Marc Bolan Shrine.  They arranged for the steps to be laid in 2000 and have continued to maintain and upgrade the site ever since.  They also maintai...

Group, History, Music / songs

7 memorials
A. A. Herns
War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Mosaic House, back - Kenny Whitmore

Mosaic House, back - Kenny Whitmore

W4, Cunnington Street

The Angola Three arch is above the first floor window on the left. The Kenny ‘Zulu’ Whitmore flying eyeball is at the right below the 2nd...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Stanley Lupino

Stanley Lupino

SE24, Ardbeg Road, 33

Stanley Lupino (1893 - 1942) actor & comedian, lived here. The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Bart's - East Building

Bart's - East Building

EC1, St Bartholomew's Hospital, East Building

This building faces onto the central courtyard.

3 subjects commemorated