Plaque

Tin Pan Alley

Erection date: 6/4/2013

Inscription

This street was 'Tin Pan Alley', 1911 - 1992, home of the British publishers and songwriters and their meeting place, The Giaconda.
British Plaque Trust

The plaque carries a QR code that provides smartphone users with audio and visual information on the area’s history, and pictures of the unveiling ceremony, at which Donovan performed his new song 'Tin Pan Alley'.

Site: Tin Pan Alley (1 memorial)

WC2, Denmark Street, 9

The spelling of the cafe's name seems uncertain.  The plaque has "Giaconda" as does the shop fascia on Google Street View: "The Giaconda Dining Room".  But a splendid Great Wen article has a photo of the old café showing "La Gioconda" both on the fascia and on the projecting sign. The café was probably set up by Italians and in that language “La Gioconda” means “the happy one”, a good name for a café (and also a good, punning, name for an enigmatic portrait of the wife of a 16th century wealthy merchant, Francesco del Giocondo, but we digress).  We can find no meaning for “Giaconda” but it does appear on the web quite frequently when “Gioconda” is intended.  So we think this is a common mistake that has found its way onto the plaque and the shop fascia.

The Great Wen piece makes it clear that the street is, 2014, at risk. Crossrail arriving at Tottenham Court Road is regenerating the area, or destroying it, depending on your view. The Giaconda Dining Room aimed at a very upmarket clientele but had closed by early 2014, so the area is still in flux.

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:
Tin Pan Alley

Subjects commemorated i

La Gioconda / Giaconda

Back in the 1960s this was the place where would-be future pop icons hung out...

Read More

Tin Pan Alley

‘Tin Pan Alley’ originally, 1885, referred to the section of New York City wh...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Tin Pan Alley

Created by i

British Plaque Trust

A charity with: "The key objective of the British Plaque Trust (BPT) is to re...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Sir Alfred Ayer

Sir Alfred Ayer

W1, York Street, 51

Westminster City Council Philosopher professor, Sir Alfred Ayer, 1910 - 1989, lived here, 1980 - 1989.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Vernon Hall Restoration

Vernon Hall Restoration

E3, Gladstone Place, 1

Vernon Hall restoration completed 1989. Bow Heritage Trail

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
St Matthias' Church Institute

St Matthias' Church Institute

N16, Wordsworth Road, St Matthias Church Hall

From St Matthias Halls: "Church halls were built in 1902 (called St Matthias Institute) by voluntary subscriptions – downstairs being use...

1 creator
The Triffids

The Triffids

EC1, Britton Street, 27

The Triffids recorded their classic album Born Sandy Devotional on this site in August 1985. "It's a Wide Open Road" thetriffids.com

1 subject commemorated
Tom Baker

Tom Baker

W1, Berwick Street, 83-84

"London County Council"? We don't think so. A Sir Tom Baker has a bespoke tailoring business around the corner at 4 D’Arblay Street, wher...

1 subject commemorated

Previously viewed

Cyril A. Truscott

Cyril A. Truscott

Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Stationers who died in WW1. Andrew Behan has kindly provided this research: Lieutenant Cyril Alfred Trustcott was born on 16 July 1883 in Paddington, the thi...

Person, Liveries & Guilds

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
St Mary Somerset  - Wren

St Mary Somerset - Wren

EC4, Lambeth Hill, St Mary's Somerset Church

The wall plaque, for the tower, is on the south side. The other three are in the paved area around the tower, on three sides. 2013: The...

3 subjects commemorated
Spiritualist Temple - Beard

Spiritualist Temple - Beard

NW1, Rochester Square, Rochester Square Spiritualist Temple

The wooden cross atop the building supports a neon cross, wired to an electrical box so rusty that we doubt it still lights the way for N...

4 subjects commemorated
George W. Taylor
1 memorial