Person    | Male  Born 28/8/1906  Died 19/5/1984

Sir John Betjeman

Categories: Architecture, Poetry

Poet Laureate 1972 - 1984. Conservation campaigner. Credited with saving the Midland Grand Hotel (now St Pancras Chambers) and the station at St Pancras from demolition and helping to achieve their Grade I listed status. This campaign in the 1960s is often given as the beginning of the conservation movement. He also helped save the Queen's Tower at Imperial College and Holy Trinity near Sloane Square. His friend the author Anthony Powell described him as having "a whim of iron".

Born 52 Parliament Hill Mansions, Lissenden Gardens (where oddly, 2014, there is no plaque, despite the Tenants Association having erected at least 6 others). Brought up in Highgate. Died at his home in Trebetherick, Cornwall and is buried in the nearby church of St. Enodoc.

2016: A bust of Betjeman (an exact replica of the St Pancras statue) was unveiled at Wantage where he lived 1951 - 72.

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Sir John Betjeman

Commemorated ati

Bedford Park panel

On the back of the panel 8 Bedford Park men are featured, each with a paragra...

Read More

Black Friar pub

The plaque is a perfectly nice pub plaque but the pub is adorned with many lo...

Read More

John Betjeman - EC1

Note that, despite its blueness, this is not an English Heritage plaque.

Read More

John Betjeman - Marylebone

As the gateway to Metroland, Betjeman was fond of this station.

Read More

John Betjeman - N6

Sir John Betjeman, 1906 - 1984, poet, lived here, 1908 - 1917. English Heritage 

Read More

Show all 8

This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
Sir John Betjeman

Creations i

Alexander Cruden

Camden Passage (link now dead) had a picture of the unveiling by Poet Laureat...

Read More

Battishill Gardens

This stone frieze (13 metres long, 2 metres high) was originally unveiled on ...

Read More

Cruikshank

Cruikshank lived here for 25 years. The plaque was unveiled by Betjeman in 1...

Read More

Other Subjects

Brightwen Binyon

Brightwen Binyon

Ipswich-based architect. Born Manchester, Brightwen being his mother's maiden name. 2nd cousin once removed of Lawrence Binyon. Trained under Alfred Waterhouse. Exhibited at the Royal Academy 1887-...

Person, Architecture

1 memorial
William Reddall

William Reddall

Architect of 10, South Street, Finsbury. Was an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects from 1874. Cheshire Street is just around the corner from Church House. From Hackney "Nos. 2 ...

Group, Architecture

1 memorial
Alan Blanc

Alan Blanc

Alan John Blanc's birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1929 in the Edmonton registration district. He was the son of Albert Francis Blanc (1888-1973) and Winifred Evelyn Blanc née Kirtland (1...

Person, Architecture

1 memorial
Haberdashers Place

Haberdashers Place

Built on green fields in 1802. Destroyed by enemy action on 11th May 1941 and re-built in 1952, architect Terence C. Page.

Building, Architecture

2 memorials
Bridewell Palace / Prison

Bridewell Palace / Prison

Built by Henry VIII, who lived there 1515-23. It deteriorated so that Edward VI gave it to the City of London who then used it as a prison, hospital (actually school) and workrooms. "Bridewell" was...

Building, Architecture, Law, Royalty

2 memorials