Plaque

Guilders Stone

Inscription

This Guilders Stone was originally the key stone of the old bridge, built 1815, removed 1876.

The phrase "Guilders Stone" has not been explained, other than a suggestion that it originally read "Builders Stone" and that a 1990s renovation might have caused the error. It's easily in living memory - surely someone knows more. We'd also like to know the significance of the central white stone, the spoked wheel and the crest.

Site: Guilders Stone - 2 locations (2 memorials)

NW1, Canal tow path, Camden High Street

Having already published this stone in 2016 we were delighted to spot it in an old movie, in a slightly different position.

The 1961 CFF film "The Monster of Highgate Ponds" (a catnip title to a London cinephile) shows the plaque (at c.50 minutes) in its previous location. Whereas now the path from the canal up to road level runs to the west, and then back to the road, via a 2-part accessible ramp, it used to run up a single ramp beside the road so there was just a wall and railings between the path and the road. This plaque used to be on that wall. When the double ramp was introduced the plaque was rescued and re-erected on the wall between the 2 ramps.We captured the frame and you can see that the plaque already has the explanatory text referring to its previous move in 1876.

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:
Guilders Stone

Subjects commemorated i

Hampstead Road Bridge over Grand Union Canal

The Listing for the current bridge tells us it is a "Public road bridge over ...

Read More

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Guilders Stone

Also at this site i

Guilders Stone - 1961

Guilders Stone - 1961

We chose the frame in the film that shows the plaque (immediately in front of...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Parliamentary division bell

Parliamentary division bell

SW1, Romney Street, 41, Marquis of Granby Public House

 

1 subject commemorated
The Cedars Club

The Cedars Club

SW11, Battersea High Street, 108

These two plaques tell a complex story which we only fully understood once we found this UCL paper. Erskine Clarke, vicar of St Mary's Ch...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Vivien Leigh SW1

Vivien Leigh SW1

SW1, Eaton Square, 54

English Heritage Vivien Leigh, 1913-1967, actress, lived here.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Jim

Jim

SW7, Cromwell Road, Victoria & Albert Museum, Pirelli Garden

These plaques are on the southern wall of the internal courtyard and we've heard that Jim, at least, was buried in this courtyard when it...

2 subjects commemorated
Avenue of trees - Hampstead Heath

Avenue of trees - Hampstead Heath

NW3, Hampstead Heath

This avenue was replanted in November 1988 to replace trees destroyed by a hurricane during the night of 15/16 October 1987. Trees donate...

2 subjects commemorated, 5 creators