Bust

Kensington Library - Chaucer

Kensington Central Library Kensington Library - Chaucer
Inscription

Chaucer

Site: Kensington Central Library (6 memorials)

W8, Philimore Walk, Kensington Central Library

The library, by E. Vincent Harris and opened in 1960, is the building to the south, the left of our picture. The Library Time Machine must be based in this building so, as you'd expect, have a very thorough post about it.

Chaucer is high up, on the back wall of the massive porch to the west; Caxton in the porch to the right. There is something of a tradition to commemorate on library buildings the great men of books from the past, but these two busts are of superior quality.

The other memorials are in the planted area just to the north of the library: from west to east: Princess Alice Garden - created, Princess Alice - unveiled, environmental, clock.

McMillan also produced the Lion and Unicorn sculptures which adorn the south facade and the gilded figure on the roof holding a star aloft - an exuberant lightening conductor.

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Kensington Library - Chaucer

Subjects commemorated i

Geoffrey Chaucer

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

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This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Kensington Library - Chaucer

Created by i

William McMillan

Born Aberdeen, Scotland. During the WW1 he was awarded the British and Victor...

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Kensington Library - Chaucer

Also at this site i

Kensington Library - clock

Kensington Library - clock

The clock can be seen in our site picture and you'll undestand why we chose t...

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Kensington Library - Environment

Kensington Library - Environment

OK, not a memorial, but a pretty plaque that we could not resist (nor photogr...

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Kensington Library - Princess Alice Garden - created

Kensington Library - Princess Alice Garden - created

This garden was created in 1982 by the Kensington Society in memory of Prince...

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Kensington Library - Princess Alice Garden - unveiled

Kensington Library - Princess Alice Garden - unveiled

Princess Alice Countess of Athlone Memorial Garden This tablet was unveiled b...

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Nearby Memorials

Admiral Arthur Phillip

Admiral Arthur Phillip

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{On the west side, beneath the relief depicting a scene with 5 people on a shore:} The discovery and fixing the site of Sydney on Wednes...

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John Hunter, Leicester Square

John Hunter, Leicester Square

WC2, Leicester Square

All four of the Leicester Square busts were removed in the 2010-12 redesign, and we don't know where they went.

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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...

Colonial Office - B09 - Ethelbert

Colonial Office - B09 - Ethelbert

SW1, Whitehall, Foreign Office

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

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Caxton Hall - head 7 - Bacon

Caxton Hall - head 7 - Bacon

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 v...

1 subject commemorated