Other

Richard Courtney Balding

Inscription

This window pediment was taken in 1979 from the former building on this site. It is retained in commemoration of Richard Courtney Balding under whose Chairmanship this building was commissioned.

The pediment is at about ground level, between the window and the pavement railings. And yes, we had to clean the metal plate before we could read the inscription.

Pediments are classical decorative architectural features which can often be found above doors or windows. They are often shallow triangles but can also be shallow segments of circles, as here. 

The plaque does not mention the pair of architectural bosses but they presumable came off the same building.

2023: UK Life Insurance Quotes has a page giving the history of United Friendly Insurance showing the letterhead for the company using a drawing of the building. In that drawing you can see, at first floor level, on either side, there are shallow segmental pediments. Perhaps you can find the bosses on this frontage, but we can't.

Site: Richard Courtney Balding (1 memorial)

SE1, Southwark Bridge Road, 38

This is a horrible section of pavement - lined with coaches, many with their engines running, uggh, but we are glad we walked it because, in the first arched bay of the marble-clad building, we found this rather sorry memorial.

Balding's father (and we think Balding himself) was a senior manager in the United Friendly Insurance Company. Our researches suggest that UF's offices were at 38-42 Southwark Bridge Road from at least the 1960s until 1997 when they moved to Cheshire. We'd date the current, grim, post-modern office building to the 1980s which tallies with the date on the inscription. So the pediment must belong to the UF offices that were here before.

2016: the building is occupied by Sungard Availability Services - it's anyone's guess what they do.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Richard Courtney Balding

Subjects commemorated i

United Friendly Insurance Company

The Picture source has: "United Friendly Life Insurance was founded back in 1...

Read More

Richard Courtney Balding

Born Camberwell. Employed as an insurance company director. Edwin Richard, hi...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Islington war memorial arch - foundation stone at the right

Islington war memorial arch - foundation stone at the right

N7, Manor Gardens

In 1923 the Prince of Wales was Edward, who later became, briefly, King Edward VIII.

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Procter family

Procter family

W1, Tottenham Court Road

We were contacted by the people at London Street Views who are researching the Street Views of 1838 - 47, produced by John Tallis. They h...

4 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
GPO architectural sculpture

GPO architectural sculpture

EC4, King William Street, Post Office Court

Immediately north of this panel are 7 other similar architectural panels relating to the Bankers Clearing House which was also on this site.

1 subject commemorated
Muses - Calliope

Muses - Calliope

WC2, Trafalgar Square, National Gallery - Staircase Hall - Half-way Landing

The NG leaflet, referring to Calliope, the muse of epic poetry, has "Unknown sitter" and this is supported by a caption on a photo of the...

1 subject commemorated
London Bridge alcove at East Sheen

London Bridge alcove at East Sheen

TW10, Upper Richmond Road, Courtlands

In case anyone is in any doubt about these alcoves being off London Bridge we photographed the Bridge House Estates logo under the keystone.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator