Person    | Female  Born 2/2/1650  Died 14/11/1687

Nell Gwynne

Eleanor Gwyn, Gwynn, Gwynne, whatever. Born Hereford. Rumoured to have lived at Lauderdale House as the mistress of Charles II, where she dangled her first-born from a window to scare the King into giving the baby a title, which he duly did - the Earl of Burford. The affair with the king started in about 1668 and they must have remained on good terms since on his death in 1685 Charles apparently said "Let not poor Nelly starve".  Nell died in her Pall Mall house.

At the height of the anti-Catholic sentiment, with a king known to be friendly towards Catholics, Gwynn is said to have won popularity by contrasting herself with the king's other mistress, Louise De Keroualle, declaring "I am the Protestant whore".

Londonist have Nell's amazing story.

2022: We were contacted by Jennifer Craig telling us that in her family there is the belief that an ancestor, Charles  Gerrelli, who was born in Italy and died in Lambeth, was a stonemason/sculptor who came here to work for a Victoria and Albert exhibition (the 1851 Great Exhibition?) and produced a statue of Nell Gwynn that is in Highland (Highgate?) cemetery. Our genealogy consultant, Andrew Behan, has investigated this family and found a father, Charles, and two sons, Edward and Thomas, who, between them, sort of match the family story, with the occupations: moulder, plasterer, modeller & figure maker, being very interesting.  However we have found no link with the Great Exhibition, Highgate Cemetery or Nell Gwynne, which doesn't mean these links don't exist.

2024: An article in a newspaper on the Sloane Square fountain page explains why there are memorials to Nell Gwynne in the Chelsea area: Charles II founded the Royal Hospital and also laid out the King's Road; Nell was associated with him; and the memorial creators could see that she was prettier!

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Nell Gwynne

Commemorated ati

Nell Gwynne - Sloane Square

She's manipulating a fan but meanwhile, unnoticed by Nell, her dress has slip...

Read More

Nell Gwynne - SW1

In a house on this site lived Nell Gwynne 1671-1687.

Read More

Nell Gwynn statue

We have failed to garner any information on this statue and the relief panels...

Read More

Whitecross Debtors' Prison

Whitecross Debtors' Prison, 1813 - 1870 Warm-hearted Nell Gwynne, in her will...

Read More

Other Subjects

Queen Caroline of Anspach

Queen Caroline of Anspach

Queen consort of George II.  Born Ansbach.  She and her husband came to Britain in 1714 when he became heir presumptive to the English throne.  Politically aligned with Robert Walpole.  She acted a...

Person, Royalty, Germany

4 memorials
Kensington Palace

Kensington Palace

A residence of the British royal family since the 17th century. Built as Nottingham House by the Earl of Nottingham. It passed from his heir (who was secretary of state to King William III), to the...

Building, Property, Royalty

2 memorials
King Henry V

King Henry V

King of England. Born in Monmouth. He ruled from 1413 until his sudden death. Famously remembered for his victory against the French at the Battle of Agincourt.

Person, Royalty, France, Wales

1 memorial
Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn

Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn

Born Arthur William Patrick Albert, the seventh child and third son of Queen Victoria. Created Duke of Connaught and Strathearn and Earl of Sussex in 1874. Entered the Royal Military Academy at Woo...

Person, Armed Forces, Royalty, Canada, Ireland

11 memorials
Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone

Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone

Born Princess Alice of Albany at Windsor Castle, daughter of Prince Leopold and Princess Helena. 1904 married Prince Alexander of Teck, which meant she was then Princess Alexander of Teck. Mother o...

Person, Royalty

4 memorials

Previously viewed

F. Foulkes

F. Foulkes

SS Atlantic Conveyor, Liverpool

Person

War dead, Other war
1 memorial
W. Phillips & Son

W. Phillips & Son

Builder of 1952 rebuilding of Haberdasher Place.

Group, Property

1 memorial
Clothworkers Company

Clothworkers Company

Their Hall, next to All Hallows Staining, was destroyed in the Great Fire.

Group, Liveries & Guilds

3 memorials
Marcelle Quinton

Marcelle Quinton

Sculptor. Niece of American industrialist, Henry J Leir.

Person, Sculpture

1 memorial
Southwark Council

Southwark Council

The London Borough of Southwark was created as an amalgamation of the Metropolitan Boroughs of Southwark, Camberwell and Bermondsey. Southwark council annually invites proposals for new plaques fro...

Group, Politics & Administration

91 memorials