Person    | Female  Born 25/9/1906  Died 28/8/1996

Phyllis Pearsall

Categories: Craft / Design

Map-maker. Born Phyllis Isobel Gross at Budapest, Court Lane Gardens, Dulwich. She said in her memoirs, that her inspiration for producing the London A - Z was because she was unable to find the location for a friend's party. The fact that she could have picked up a copy of her father's street atlas which had been printed some years before, seems to belie that. Her claim to have spent eighteen hours a day, pounding the streets of London, may also be down to her own self-publicity, debunked pretty thoroughly by her half-brother and others here.  

She did however produce what has become the standard guide for getting around the capital (until someone invented the smartphone and put maps on it). A musical based on her life, 'The A - Z of Mrs P', was produced in London in 2014. Died at 5 Atlantic Court, Shoreham by Sea, Sussex.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Phyllis Pearsall

Commemorated ati

Other Subjects

James Upjohn
1 memorial
Freeform Arts Trust

Freeform Arts Trust

Free Form is unique in providing the full range of arts and creative services for the built environment to place art at the heart of urban regeneration.

Group, Art, Craft / Design

5 memorials
Royal Carriage Department

Royal Carriage Department

The Royal Brass Foundry in Woolwich was already producing carriages as well as guns but in 1803-5 a building dedicated to carriages was constructed - see picture.  John's Military History, the sour...

Group, Craft / Design

1 memorial
Walter Wakley

Walter Wakley

Walter Wakley was born on 4 October 1883 in Clapham, Surrey, the fifth of the eight children of Albert Wakley (1852-1915) and Sophia Wakley née Watson (1855-1923). His birth was registered in the 4...

Person, Craft / Design

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Lee Rigby - tree

Lee Rigby - tree

SE18, Corner of John Wilson and Wellington Streets

There was some friction over this memorial. It is close to the site of Lee Rigby's murder and initially Greenwich Council was opposed to ...

4 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Leighton Fund

Leighton Fund

Originated as the bequest left by Lord Leighton in 1896. Bob Speel provides some useful information about what the fund has bought. The newspaper article quoted at Sloane Square fountain contains:...

Group, Art, Benefactor

3 memorials
Mary Quant

Mary Quant

SW3, Kings Road, 138a

Jan Elson has pointed out that there's something very funny about the "King's Road" on the plaque - and not just the apostrophe. The stre...

2 subjects commemorated