Place    From 1559 

Poets' Corner

Categories: Literature

The popular name for the south transept of Westminster Abbey. Geoffrey Chaucer was the first person to be interred here, although it was for his position as Clerk of Works to the Palace of Westminster, rather than for literary merit. It wasn't until the burial of Edmund Spenser that the tradition began. The name was supposed to have been coined by Oliver Goldsmith. Nowadays occupants are commemorated with a wall or floor tablet rather than actual interment.

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:
Poets' Corner

Commemorated ati

Robert Browning - W8

Robert Browning lived in this house 1887 - 1889, from here his body was taken...

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Other Subjects

Nancy Mitford

Nancy Mitford

Born 1 Graham Street (now Terrace) SW1 into the British aristocracy, the eldest of 7 siblings - see Diana for the list. Popularised U and non-U linguistic usage. Novels include: The Pursuit of Love...

Person, Literature, Seriously Famous, France

1 memorial
Anne Brontë

Anne Brontë

Novelist and poet.  Born Yorkshire.  Youngest member of the Bonte literary family.  Novels: 'Agnes Grey', 'Tenant of Wildfell Hall'.  See Charlotte Brontë for more.

Person, Literature

1 memorial
Henry Williamson

Henry Williamson

Writer. Born at 66 Braxfield Road, Brockley. His best known work, 'Tarka the Otter' was published in 1927. He attended the Nuremberg rally in Berlin and saw Adolf Hitler as a source of good for his...

Person, Literature, Germany

1 memorial
The (Literary) Club

The (Literary) Club

The (Literary) Club was founded in the Turk's Head Tavern, Gerrard Street, by Dr Samuel Johnson & Joshua Reynolds 1764. The members included: Goldsmith, Boswell, Burke, Reynolds, Garrick.

Group, Literature

1 memorial
Mabel Dearmer

Mabel Dearmer

Novelist, playwright, translator and illustrator.  Born Jessie Mabel Prichard White, daughter of Surgeon-Major William White. Her illustrations were accepted by the Yellow Book. 1892 married Percy ...

Person, Art, Literature, Theatre, Balkans

War dead, WW1
2 memorials

Previously viewed

Francis Towneley

Francis Towneley

Born into a Catholic Lancashire family, supporters of the Jacobites. Served in the French army for over 10 years and returned to support Prince Charles in the 1745 rebellion. Colonel of the Manches...

Person, Armed Forces, Tragedy

2 memorials
Wells Coates

Wells Coates

Architect. Born Wells Wintemute Coates in Tokyo of Canadian parents. He was influenced by Le Corbusier's principal that buildings should be 'machines for living' , which was reflected in his best k...

Person, Architecture, Canada, Japan

1 memorial
Croydon airport

Croydon airport

Croydon was London's first international airport. The terminal building, 1928 - 1959, was one of the first purpose-built terminal buildings in the world. The air traffic control tower is the first ...

Place, Aviation, Transport

3 memorials
Margaret Rutherford

Margaret Rutherford

Stage and film Actor. Born Margaret Taylor Rutherford in Balham. She was well into her thirties before she started acting, but rapidly established herself as a much sought after character actress. ...

Person, Cinema, Theatre

2 memorials