Plaque

Coronation of King George V

Erection date: 8/1/1912

Inscription

This tower was erected by public subscription as a loyal tribute from the inhabitants of Bexleyheath to commemorate the coronation of His Majesty King George V, 1911.
C. Sheldon J.P. - Chairman Bexley Urban District Council
Thomas C. Baynes - clerk
Walter V. Epps A.R.I.B.A. - architect

This is the foundation stone of the tower.

Site: Bexleyheath Clock Tower (5 memorials)

DA6, Bexleyheath Market Place

The four niches contain, reading clockwise, starting at the north: empty; Morris; Queen Elizabeth; King George V.

London's Screen Archives have a 3 minute film of the opening event, silent of course, but you can join in the rousing "three cheers". The centenary celebrations included a booklet: 'Changing Times: The Broadway, Bexleyheath, 1812-1912', which is very informative and shows some designs for the tower. It contained an electricity substation in the base, for the trams. On opening, of the tower's 4 niches only one was filled, with George V. Epps' speech finished with "I hope to see all the niches filled with busts of members of  the Royal Family.” The Morris bust rather ruined that plan but the Centenary celebrations included the launch of an appeal for the Elizabeth II bust.

Can any Bexleyheathians help us with a question? If what we've read about the George V bust is true, it means that the tower was totally devoid of busts from 1935 - 1997. Can any one confirm this?

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

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Coronation of King George V

Subjects commemorated i

Coronation of King George V and Queen Mary

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This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Coronation of King George V

Created by i

Thomas Godfrey Baynes

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Walter Maxted Epps, FRIBA

Both the booklets Changing Times: The Broadway, Bexleyheath, 1812-1912 and Ch...

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George Adam Sheldon

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Coronation of King George V

Also at this site i

Bexleyheath Clock Tower Centenary

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King George V - Bexleyheath bust

King George V - Bexleyheath bust

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Queen Elizabeth II - Bexleyheath bust

Queen Elizabeth II - Bexleyheath bust

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William Morris - Bexleyheath bust

William Morris - Bexleyheath bust

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