Bust

ICI - 2 - Mendeleeff

Inscription

Mendeleeff

Site: Imperial Chemical House - 9 portrait keystones (10 memorials)

SW1, Millbank, 9, Imperial Chemical House

For an idea of what this area used to be like see this 1894ish map. It was all redeveloped following the 1928 flood. This block was designed by Sir Frank Baines and built in 1929-31 as HQ for Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd (ICI). Aka 'Nobel House' it is now, 2016, occupied by Ofgem, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets. The frontage boasts 9 portrait keystones of chemists and ICI directors: Cavendish is on the Horseferry Road frontage, Mendeleeff on the junction corner, the other 7 are on the river side, left to right: Lavoisier, McGowan, Nobel, Alfred Mond (ICI), Ludwig Mond, Priestley, Liebig. Each 5th floor keystone decorates an integrated window arrangement with the identifying name on the 4th floor balcony. In his book on London statues Osbert Sitwell reports a journalist  writing that these "masks" are "four times life-size" but he also writes that they are "seven storeys above the ground" so we have to allow for some exaggeration.

On the 5th floor are four magnificent statues by Charles Sergeant Jagger. See A London Inheritance for photos. As well as these keystones Fagan did most of the other sculpture on the building, including the massive bronze entrance doors.

2017: We watched the 1947 film "Mine Own Executioner" which uses a few London locations. We recognised that of the last scene - a suicide at the top of a building - and thought it might be this one. But it's actually the MI5 building immediately to the south of Lambeth Bridge, Thames House, which was built by ICI at the same time as IC House and not used by MI5 until 1994.

There are two more portrait keystones on Nobel House, behind this building.

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
ICI - 2 - Mendeleeff

Subjects commemorated i

Dmitri Mendeleev

Born Siberia. Earlier versions existed but in 1869 he published the first wid...

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This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
ICI - 2 - Mendeleeff

Created by i

William Bateman Fagan

Born Bermondsey. Andrew Behan's researches have found that when he was baptis...

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
ICI - 2 - Mendeleeff

Also at this site i

Faraday on the ICI building entrance doors

Faraday on the ICI building entrance doors

These doors are in the centre of the river frontage of the building. Mapping...

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ICI - 5 - Nobel

ICI - 5 - Nobel

Alfred Nobel

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Nearby Memorials

Bermondsey Library - 5 - unknown

Bermondsey Library - 5 - unknown

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The weather has removed all the hair and costume details which are essential for any chance of identifying the person represented. Chauc...

Wingate

Wingate

SW1, Victoria Embankment, Victoria Embankment Gardens - Whitehall section

Unveiled by the Duke of Edinburgh.

2 subjects commemorated, 4 creators
Colonial Office - B08 - Smith

Colonial Office - B08 - Smith

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Statues Hither and Thither has been invaluable in identifying some of the busts and most of the statues. The statues are not labelled and...

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Drill Hall - head 6 - Crimean soldier

Drill Hall - head 6 - Crimean soldier

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In the spandrels above the entrance door: "Bloomsbury Rifles Pro Patria Semper" ('for my country always'). The technique used for this le...

Temple Bar memorial - Homer

Temple Bar memorial - Homer

EC4, Fleet Street

This is the site of the 17th century Temple Bar entrance to the City of London. Having become an obstruction to circulation it was remove...

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Previously viewed

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War dead, WW1
1 memorial
The Bell, Carter Lane

The Bell, Carter Lane

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From: the Devere Society: "1598 October - In the only letter ever discovered addressed to Shakspere at Stratford, one Richard Quiney writ...

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Sir Bernard Spilsbury

Sir Bernard Spilsbury

Forensic pathologist.  Born Leamington Spa, son of a manufacturing chemist.  He was a pioneer in the science of determining the cause of death by examining a corpse and gave evidence in many cases ...

Person, Law, Medicine

1 memorial
Lady John Manners

Lady John Manners

There is sheet music dated 1873 for a song "True for ever" with words and music by Lady John Manners and Virginia Gabriel. Could this be the same LJM who opened our garden? We hope so.

Person, Music / songs

1 memorial
Highbury Quadrant Congregational Church - 3 Smith

Highbury Quadrant Congregational Church - 3 Smith

N5, Highbury Quadrant

The 7 plaques are on different faces of the frontage of the building. We've numbered them left to right. Plaque 3 can be seen in our phot...

1 subject commemorated