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.

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Knightsbridge - 5 - Temple

Subjects commemorated i

Frederick Temple, Bishop of London

Born Greece. Bought up in Devon. 1876 married Beatrice Blanche Lascelles. Bis...

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Knightsbridge - 5 - Temple

Also at this site i

Knightsbridge - 3 - Roberts

Knightsbridge - 3 - Roberts

Stephen Brasher suggested that this is Field Marshal Lord Roberts and, having...

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Knightsbridge - 4 - Kitchener

Knightsbridge - 4 - Kitchener

Stalin?  Can't be - for so many reasons, one being that he didn't look like t...

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Knightsbridge - 6 - Salisbury

Knightsbridge - 6 - Salisbury

Lea Cornthwaite suggested this might be the Duke of Cambridge. Stephen Brashe...

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Nearby Memorials

Wimbledon Library - Shakespeare

Wimbledon Library - Shakespeare

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1 subject commemorated
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Greenwich roundels - Duncan

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The roundels on the north, river-facing, frontage are occupied by, left to right: Anson, Drake, Cook, Howard, Blake, Benbow, Sandwich, Ro...

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The George

The George

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There has been a public house of this name here since at least 1739 but the bust is a very good likeness of George IV, regent 1811 - 1820...

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Temple Bar memorial - Chaucer

Temple Bar memorial - Chaucer

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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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The Peelian principles summarise the ideas that Sir Robert Peel developed to define an ethical police force. The approach expressed in th...

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Previously viewed

Sir Tasker Watkins

Sir Tasker Watkins

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Sir Tasker Watkins, 1918 - 2007, awarded the Victoria Cross World War II 1939 - 1945, lived here. London Borough of Barking & Dagenham

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Roger Fry - W1

Roger Fry - W1

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Historian Sir David Cannadine, and Frances Spalding, Fry's biographer, were present at the unveiling.

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator