Erection date: 18/1/1997
{At the base of the bust:}
William Morris 1834 - 1896.
Morris lived very nearby in The Red House for 5 years. This bust was unveiled to mark the centenary of his death.
Site: Bexleyheath Clock Tower (5 memorials)
DA6, Bexleyheath Market Place
The four niches contain, reading clockwise, starting at the north: empty; Morris; Queen Elizabeth; King George V.
London's Screen Archives have a 3 minute film of the opening event, silent of course, but you can join in the rousing "three cheers". The centenary celebrations included a booklet: 'Changing Times: The Broadway, Bexleyheath, 1812-1912', which is very informative and shows some designs for the tower. It contained an electricity substation in the base, for the trams. On opening, of the tower's 4 niches only one was filled, with George V. Epps' speech finished with "I hope to see all the niches filled with busts of members of the Royal Family.” The Morris bust rather ruined that plan but the Centenary celebrations included the launch of an appeal for the Elizabeth II bust.
Can any Bexleyheathians help us with a question? If what we've read about the George V bust is true, it means that the tower was totally devoid of busts from 1935 - 1997. Can any one confirm this?
Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesof london.co.uk
