Bust

Caxton Hall - head 6 - Chaucer

This could equally well be Caxton (they are both always shown with this headgear, full beard and moustache) but the lack of sideburns seems more Chaucerian.

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 6 - Chaucer

Subjects commemorated i

Geoffrey Chaucer

Poet and administrator. Whilst living in the Aldgate, as the ‘Comptroller of ...

Read More

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Caxton Hall - head 6 - Chaucer

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 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

Previously viewed

Edwin Arnold

Edwin Arnold

SW5, Bolton Gardens, 31

Sir Edwin Arnold, (1832-1904), poet and journalist, lived and died here. L.C.C. 

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
St Bartholomew's WW1 memorial

St Bartholomew's WW1 memorial

EC1, West Smithfield, St Bartholomew's church

The restoration of this church was the first major work by Aston Webb. His brother, Edward, was churchwarden at the time. Webb and collea...

War dead | WW1
38 subjects commemorated
Roundel 2

Roundel 2

EC2, King Street, 28

These roundels, below the second floor windows, are numbered from the left. Under other windows are: "T. C. C.", "1868", "H.H.". Number ...

PP - 4S - Bannister

PP - 4S - Bannister

EC1, Edward Street

This garden acquired its name due to its popularity as a lunchtime garden with workers from the nearby General Post Office (long gone). ...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
The Trafalgar Way - Admiralty

The Trafalgar Way - Admiralty

SW1, Whitehall, Old Admiralty Building

The plaques are on the southern end wall of the colonnade. From their position and style, including the rope borders, these two plaques w...

8 subjects commemorated, 1 creator