Builder and economist, a key figure in the rebuilding of London after the Great Fire. Laid out Essex Street in 1675. Also redeveloped Red Lion Fields and the Temple. It seems he was an extrovert rogue, dishonest and manipulative. Died, probably at his home in Osterley House, Middlesex, heavily in debt. Good write up at London Historians.
His father, a preacher and politician, had the unusual first name: "Praisegod". That we believe is true since the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography has an entry for Praisegod. Wikipedia's entry for Nicholas has his middle name as "Unless-Jesus-Christ-Had-Died-For-Thee-Thou-Hadst-Been-Damned". This is not mentioned in the ODNB so we wonder if it is one of those ho-ho-ho jokes for which Wikipedia's less-than-serious contributors are famed.
This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Nicholas Barbon
Commemorated ati
Essex Street & Essex Hall
This plaque was first erected at 7 Essex Street in 1962 and then re-erected h...
Other Subjects
A. E. Darby
Bethnal Green Borough Engineer/Architect in 1922, 1926, 1937.
Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin
Born Bloomsbury. A treasured only child he had minimal education, never learning to spell. Indoctrinated by his father into the architecture of the Middle Ages, he became a religious fanatic who dr...
M Digby Wyatt
Secretary to the Executive Committee for the Great Exhibition 1851.Architect and writer on art. Born near Devizes, Wiltshire. Died Dimlands Castle, Glamorgan.
Thomas Allom
Architect and artist. Born Lambeth. Founding member of RIBA. Travelled extensively and illustrated topographical publications. Waymarking has the text of a 1997 paper by Leslie du Cane which sa...
Previously viewed
Savoy - feathers
WC2, Savoy Court
In 1903-10 the Savoy Hotel was built by Colcutt and Macmurdo. The magnificently Art Deco Savoy Theatre is in the western section. The sho...
Tothill Fields Prison
Also known as Tothill Fields Bridewell, Westminster Bridewell and the Westminster House of Correction. It was one of the less severe places of incarceration, as one of the main punishments was not ...
Rossetti, Morris and Burne-Jones
WC1, Red Lion Square, 17
What a delight - a quality plaque that isn't round and blue.
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