Other

Royal Brunswick Theatre bollards

Inscription

{Below a crown:}
RBT

Site: Royal Brunswick Theatre bollards (1 memorial)

E1, Ensign Street

When the theatres were here the street was named Well Street. There are 10 bollards, some damaged, but the survival of the collection is remarkable. They were probably erected in the first place to keep the carriages of those attending the theatre off the pavement (plus ça change).

Arthur Lloyd has published an article from The Mariners' Church Gospel Temperance Soldiers' and Sailors' Magazine, January 1843. This describes how, following the destruction of the theatre, George Charles Smith RN, minister of the Mariners' Church, Welclose Square arranged for a Sailors Home to be built on the site in 1835. It "is partly built from the bricks and materials that formed the ruins of those intemperance and immoral playhouses". Even more interesting, the article finishes: "The iron posts in front were part of the first purchase made by G. C. Smith, through the agency of Mr Sargent and paid for by Captain Robert Elliot, RN."

It's not clear why the posts/bollards had to be bought separately. Perhaps, being on the pavement and not actually on the site, their ownership was complicated. But it seems they were deliberately saved as a memorial for the theatre and those that died.

We have found a few commemorative bollards: Hyde Park bollards; Millbank PrisonRoyal Military Asylum.

2022: Londonist reviewed a book, Bollardology. And you do, of course, follow the World Bollard Association on Twitter/X.

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:
Royal Brunswick Theatre bollards

Subjects commemorated i

Royal Brunswick Theatre

The Royal Brunswick Theatre was built on the site of a previous theatre, the ...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Sophie Hoskins gold post box

Sophie Hoskins gold post box

SW20, Worple Road

{On a brass plaque attached to the box:} This post box has been painted gold by Royal Mail to celebrate Sophie Hosking, Gold Medal winner...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Cholera Pump

Cholera Pump

W1, Broadwick Street

Still, this pump has no handle.

3 subjects commemorated, 2 creators
Marc Bolan shrine - tree

Marc Bolan shrine - tree

SW13, Queen's Ride

This site has evolved over the years from flowers place around the tree to become the shrine that it is today.  The steps were probably i...

1 subject commemorated
Hornsey Central Hospital war memorial - pier heads

Hornsey Central Hospital war memorial - pier heads

N8, Park Road, 151, Hornsey Central Health Centre

We think these stones topped the gate piers at the street entrance to the memorial building.

1 subject commemorated
South Bank mosaic - Bella Burge

South Bank mosaic - Bella Burge

SE1, South Bank Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hall / Purcell Room

These mosaics are laid in the pavement in a rather sad, out the way, corner of the South Bank, at street level, near the non-main entranc...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator