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

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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...

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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...

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Caxton Hall - head 1 - Milton

Caxton Hall - head 1 - Milton

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

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Caxton Hall - head 4 - unidentified

Caxton Hall - head 4 - unidentified

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

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