Bust

Old Westminster Library - head 1 - Spenser

We first thought Francis Bacon but he normally has more hair, and, so far, all the heads are literary rather than scientific.

Site: Old Westminster Library - 6 heads (7 memorials)

SW1, Great Smith Street

The foundation stone is immediately to the right of the central entrance.

Above the entrance: "Westminster Public Library, The united parishes of St Margaret and St John the Evangelist, AD 1893". In 1985 this building was threatened with demolition and was only saved by a campaign which brought about the Thorney Island Society.

The Listing identifies the heads for us, and we've numbered them left to right.

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Old Westminster Library - head 1 - Spenser

Subjects commemorated i

Edmund Spenser

Poet.  Probably born in East or West Smithfield. Best known for the epic poem...

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Old Westminster Library - head 1 - Spenser

Also at this site i

Nearby Memorials

Sir Henry Tate

Sir Henry Tate

SW2, Effra Road, Brixton Tate Library

The inscribed day of death, 8, is consistently contradicted by other sources which give 5. The inscription on the rear of the plinth is a...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Morley mosaics - KEW - Octavia Hill

Morley mosaics - KEW - Octavia Hill

SE1, King Edward Walk, Morley College

These 10 portrait mosaics are the result of a project by Morley College to celebrate the achievements of significant women who have lived...

2 subjects commemorated, 3 creators
Greenwich roundels - Howe

Greenwich roundels - Howe

SE10, King William Walk, Discover Greenwich (Royal Naval College, Pepys Building)

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

1 subject commemorated
Colonial Office - B11 - Alfred

Colonial Office - B11 - Alfred

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
01 Croydon - Edmund Halley

01 Croydon - Edmund Halley

CR9, Katharine Street, Croydon Public Library

Built in 1892 by Charles Henman Jr. this heavily decorated complex of buildings makes up Croydon's Town Hall. The building and the rounde...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator