Bust: Knightsbridge - 5 - Temple
Erection date: 1905
We original thought this was Gladstone (who had died only a few years before) but Lea Cornthwaite has suggested Frederick Temple, pointing out the clothing looks religious, and we think that is a better match (the hair in particular).
Site: Knightsbridge - 6 busts (6 memorials)
SW1, Knightsbridge, 55 - 91
This huge building, Grade 2 listed and in need of a clean, is actually 18 buildings behind a unifying facade designed by W. D. Caroe, in red brick with stone dressings in an eclectic Queen Anne/Flemish style. 1902 - 5. Built as a mansion block but unusually there were seven developers who designed their own segments behind the facade.
A 2010 planning application contains a few drawings and early photographs but there is no mention of these busts, numbered here left to right.
When we published these 6 busts we were pretty confident with our identification of heads 1 and 2 but were struggling to identify the others. Readers quickly sent in some helpful suggestions, readers more familiar with the faces of celebrities from that period than we are. So we have corrected our identifications, but if you think we still have it wrong please let us know.
The second floor corner at Wilton Place carries a rather splendid royal crest with the top-most lion looking more like a lap-dog.
