Bust

William Morris - Bexleyheath bust

Erection date: 18/1/1997

Inscription

{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

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
William Morris - Bexleyheath bust

Subjects commemorated i

William Morris (designer)

Designer, author and visionary socialist.  Born Elm House, Walthamstow, Essex...

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This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
William Morris - Bexleyheath bust

Created by i

John Ravera

Sculptor. Born Surrey, educated Camberwell, lived Bexleyheath. Other work in ...

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
William Morris - Bexleyheath bust

Also at this site i

Bexleyheath Clock Tower Centenary

Bexleyheath Clock Tower Centenary

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Coronation of King George V

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This is the foundation stone of the tower.

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King George V - Bexleyheath bust

King George V - Bexleyheath bust

The original temporary plaster bust was unveiled at the tower's opening cerem...

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Queen Elizabeth II - Bexleyheath bust

Queen Elizabeth II - Bexleyheath bust

Sculpted by Frances Segelman and erected to commemorate the 60th anniversary ...

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