Person    | Male  Born 1861  Died 12/10/1934

Willy Clarkson

Costumier and wigmaker. He took over his father's business in 1878, and became very successful, including providing costumes and wigs for productions by Queen Victoria's family. It was claimed that he created a disguise for the murderer Doctor Crippen. He was rumoured to be homosexual, and a public lavatory in Soho was known as 'Clarkson's Cottage'. We have found a reference to a documentary which makes a tenuous claim that he was Jack the Ripper.

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

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Willy Clarkson

Commemorated ati

Wong Kei Restaurant - Willy Clarkson

Willy Clarkson, 1861 - 1934, theatrical wigmaker, lived and died here. London...

Read More

Other Subjects

Lord Randolph Churchill

Lord Randolph Churchill

Politician.  Father of Winston.  Born at 3 Wilton Terrace, son of the 7th Duke of Marlborough of Blenheim Palace.  1874 married an American Jennie Jerome and Winston was their first child.  (After ...

Person, Jack the Ripper suspects, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
William Ewart Gladstone

William Ewart Gladstone

Born in Liverpool. Liberal Prime Minister four times. One of the Commissioners for the Great Exhibition. Queen Victoria moaned that "He speaks to me as if I were a public meeting". Caroline's Misce...

Person, Jack the Ripper suspects, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Seriously Famous

10 memorials
Dr Barnardo

Dr Barnardo

Missionary and social worker with the British poor, especially children. Born Thomas John Barnardo in Dublin with a Prussian father. "Brought to Christ" in 1862. Arrived at 30 Coburn Street in 1866...

Person, Children, Jack the Ripper suspects, Social Welfare, Ireland

5 memorials
Francis Thompson

Francis Thompson

Poet and cricket lover, author of 'The Hound of Heaven'. Born Preston, Lancashire into the middle classes. Went through a period as a down-and-out and opium addict before being discovered as a poet...

Person, Jack the Ripper suspects, Poetry

1 memorial
Dr Jose Rizal

Dr Jose Rizal

Writer and national hero of the Philippines during the Spanish colonial times. Born Laguna. Executed by firing squad in Manila. He was in London, working at the British Library, May 1888 to January...

Person, Execution, Jack the Ripper suspects, Literature, Nationalism, Philippines

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Great Maze Pond - Guys - 2 staff

Great Maze Pond - Guys - 2 staff

SE1, Great Maze Pond

In our photo the three iron-work panels can just be seen on the railings in front of the lady with the suitcase. In all honesty only the...

Children who died in the Evelina at Guy's Hospital

Children who died in the Evelina at Guy's Hospital

See the Evelina Children's Hospital for more information.

Group, Children, Medicine

1 memorial
Nelson - New Bond Street 147

Nelson - New Bond Street 147

W1, New Bond Street, 147

In the picture you can see the plaque: between the two green flags, level with their lower edges.

1 subject commemorated
Salmon & Gluckstein

Salmon & Gluckstein

Tobacco retailer which become the largest tobacco sellers in the UK, with over 140 retail outlets. Samuel Gluckstein (1821-73) was born in Rheinberg, Prussia (now Germany) on 4 January 1821, the s...

Group, Commerce

1 memorial
Sir Ambrose Heal

Sir Ambrose Heal

Furniture designer and retailer. Born at Crouch End. Studied at the Slade School of Fine Art before joining the family firm which ran the Heal & Son department store. He designed the simple, st...

Person, Commerce, Craft / Design

3 memorials