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

Morley mosaics - WBR - Emma Cons

Morley mosaics - WBR - Emma Cons

SE1, Westminster Bridge Road, Morley College

Left to right: Cons, Martineau, Hubback, Baylis. In our photo the pedestrian has just walked past Baylis. These mosaics are on the Maufe...

3 subjects commemorated, 3 creators
President Lincoln bust

President Lincoln bust

EC3, Royal Exchange Buildings, Royal Exchange

Easily missed, this bust was brought to our attention by IanVisits.  It's at the eastern entrance to the building.

1 subject commemorated, 3 creators
Dave Squires

Dave Squires

SE1, Bayliss Road, Waterloo Action Centre, 14

Dave Squires, 1949 - 2009, much loved street sweeper. Southbankmosaics Supported by: Lambeth Council and Lambeth NHS

1 subject commemorated, 3 creators
Shakespeare's Head

Shakespeare's Head

W1, Carnaby Street, Shakespeare's Head pub

At one time the pub was owned by Thomas and John Shakespeare, who liked to think they were related to the man himself. The statue dates ...

1 subject commemorated
Old Westminster Library - head 4 - Dryden

Old Westminster Library - head 4 - Dryden

SW1, Great Smith Street

The foundation stone is immediately to the right of the central entrance. Above the entrance: "Westminster Public Library, The united pa...

1 subject commemorated

Previously viewed

Sydney Charles Pigden

Sydney Charles Pigden

Royal Air Force fighter pilot and PE teacher. Born Sydenham, lived in Lewisham most of his life. Aged 18, joined the RAF and flew Spitfires and Hurricanes. When he left the RAF he taught at Turnham...

Person, Education

1 memorial