Bust

Temple Bar memorial - Chaucer

Inscription

Chaucer

Site: Temple Bar memorial (9 memorials)

EC4, Fleet Street

This is the site of the 17th century Temple Bar entrance to the City of London. Having become an obstruction to circulation it was removed in 1879 and this monument unveiled in 1881, as a memorial to the old Temple Bar and as a marker for the entrance to the City at the point where it was traditional for the Lord Mayor to welcome royal visitors to the City.

This is a typically overwrought late Victorian edifice, topped with a giant griffin (or dragon; there are competing definitions of the differences) by Charles Birch. The north and south sides hold large statues of Queen Victoria and, the soon to be, Edward VII. To east and west are medallion portraits of the Lord Mayor at the time, Sir Francis Wyatt Truscott, and Prince Albert Victor, the King we never had. At the bottom of the west face gilt lettering carved into the granite base announces "City of London".

Each side holds a bronze relief plaque, one of which states that the monument is aligned exactly with the west side the old Temple Bar and specifies the north-south displacement - a good example of Victorian flamboyance married to technical confidence. A carved pillar is placed at each corner, decorated with symbols for arts, science, peace and war.  Arts includes two busts: to the north Homer and to the south Chaucer.

We have treated many of these features as separate memorials and give more details of each one on its own page. Ornamental Passions has a very good post on this edifice.

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Temple Bar memorial - Chaucer

Subjects commemorated i

Geoffrey Chaucer

Poet and administrator. Whilst living in the Aldgate, as the ‘Comptroller of ...

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

Also at this site i

Temple Bar memorial

Temple Bar memorial

{On the frieze at the top of the monument, above the columns, text runs aroun...

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Temple Bar memorial - Edward VII

Temple Bar memorial - Edward VII

The niche on the north face holds a marble statue of the Prince of Wales, lat...

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Temple Bar memorial - Homer

Temple Bar memorial - Homer

Homer {in ancient Greek lettering}

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Temple Bar memorial - Prince Albert Victor

Temple Bar memorial - Prince Albert Victor

The west face is framed with pilasters each side, decorated with emblems of "...

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Temple Bar memorial - Prince of Wales's typhoid recovery

Temple Bar memorial - Prince of Wales's typhoid recovery

{On the north face, below the statue there is a bronze relief showing Victori...

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Nearby Memorials

Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee - W1

Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee - W1

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2 subjects commemorated
Chaucer bust - SW1

Chaucer bust - SW1

SW1, Parliament Street, 48, Red Lion Inn

These two busts are above the second floor bay windows, Dickens on Parliament Street, Chaucer on the return in Derby Gate. The building ...

1 subject commemorated
193 Fleet Street - 6 - Raphael

193 Fleet Street - 6 - Raphael

EC4, Fleet Street, 193

Building erected in 1883 by George Attenborough for his jewellery and pawn-broking business, Attenborough and Sons. Architects: Archer an...

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Imperial College - Wernher

Imperial College - Wernher

SW7, Prince Consort Road, Imperial College

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1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Grosvenor Hotel - head 11

Grosvenor Hotel - head 11

SW1, Buckingham Palace Road, Grosvenor Hotel

This 1860 building, by architect James Knowles Snr, is studded with many portrait busts of which we believe only these 14 are representat...

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Tonbridge Club

Tonbridge Club

WC1, Cromer Street, 120

Foundation Stone laid by Raymond Denham Poland Esquire, master of the Worshipful Company of Skinners, 22 October 1932. Sir Horace Hamilt...

1 subject commemorated, 3 creators
William Eliot, 4th Earl of St Germans

William Eliot, 4th Earl of St Germans

Born Plymouth.  Diplomat and Liberal politician.  In 1877 succeeded his father as Earl. Died unmarried and was succeeded by his younger brother Henry.

Person, Politics & Administration

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St James's

St James's

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Theatre Royal Marylebone

Theatre Royal Marylebone

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Building, Cinema, Theatre

2 memorials