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

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

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Fan Makers' Company Hall

Fan Makers' Company Hall

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Group, Craft / Design, Liveries & Guilds

2 memorials
Royal Doulton / Doulton Potteries

Royal Doulton / Doulton Potteries

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Group, Craft / Design, Industry

39 memorials
Sulloniacae

Sulloniacae

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Place, Craft / Design, Romans

1 memorial
Durham Brothers, Atlas Foundry

Durham Brothers, Atlas Foundry

Writing about Bow Road Edith's Streets has: "203 & 205 Atlas Iron Foundry Durham Bros, iron founders. Numerous plates on iron buildings throughout London demonstrate their work".

Group, Craft / Design

1 memorial
Richard 'Beau' Nash

Richard 'Beau' Nash

Dandy and leader of fashion. Born in Swansea, he had short-lived careers as a lawyer and in the army. Became 'Master of Ceremonies' in both Bath and Tunbridge Wells. This position covered a number ...

Person, Community / Clubs, Craft / Design, Seriously Famous, Wales

1 memorial

Previously viewed

James Palmer bust

James Palmer bust

SW1, Rochester Row, 42

The plaque immediately below the bust is blank but there are 4 others below that, each with an inscription.  The text of the upper three ...

11 subjects commemorated
Prater fountain - SW16

Prater fountain - SW16

SW16, Harefield Road, Norbury Park

The listing entry says that this is a rare example of a circular drinking trough of granite construction but does not comment on its stat...

1 subject commemorated
Justin Hinds

Justin Hinds

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Person, Music / songs, Jamaica

1 memorial
John Burns

John Burns

Labour leader and politician. Born John Elliott Burns in Vauxhall. in 1889 he played a major part in the London dock strike. Entered parliament in 1892. Appointed president of the Board of Trade in...

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
J. Cahill

J. Cahill

Employed at the Holloway bus/tram garage - Pemberton Gardens. Served and was killed in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial