Erection date: 7/7/1925
George Frederick Watts O.M.R.A., painter (1817 - 1904) lived and died here.
LCC
In April 2024 this plaque was revealed as one of the items held in English Heritage's archive at Wrest Park, being discussed in their second short film about the 'orphan' plaques in their collection.
This was one of a run of seven plaques made for the LCC between 1925 and 1926 by Doulton in the 'Della Robbia' style, featuring a colourful raised wreath surround, five of which survive on London buildings - to Gladstone in Carlton House Terrace, Canaletto in Beak Street, Whistler, in Cheyne Walk, Wesley in City Road and Besant in Frognal. There is one plaque unaccounted for in the 'Della Robbia' series: a plaque to Lord Byron at Bennet Street, believed lost in WW2.
We thank Steve Roffey for his work on the history of this plaque. See also Wikipedia’s page of lost English Heritage plaques.
Site: G. F. Watts - W14 (1 memorial)
W14, Melbury Road, Kingfisher House
Watts lived with the Prinseps at Little Holland House, the dower house on the Holland Estate (photo and 1863 map), which was demolished in 1875 to allow Melbury Road to be laid out. Watts then had New Little Holland House constructed and moved in in 1876. There he lived and worked until his death.
New Little Holland House was designed for Watts by Frederick Pepys Cockerell, with a gallery extension by George Aitchison added in 1878. It was demolished in 1964, being replaced by a block of flats (Kingfisher House) c.1965.
This photo from Layers of London is captioned there as "G.F. Watts plaque, 6 Melbury Road, 1963" so it shows New Little Holland House just prior to its demolition. The '6' in the caption suggests that the road has been renumbered, since the current 6 is nowhere near Kingfisher House.
Sources include: Wikipedia, Layers of London, Artists at Home, Wikipedia.
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