Bust

Caxton Hall - head 2 - Caxton

Normally both Chaucer and Caxton are shown with full beards but the facial hair on head number 6 looks slightly more like Chaucer's, which leaves this as Caxton. And we found one image of him beardless at Tenanbaum.

Site: Caxton Hall (12 memorials)

SW1, Caxton Street, 10, Caxton Hall

The foundation stone is low down at the right hand side of the building. Above each of the two statues is a bust, both of the Greek god variety rather than any particular mortal.

The 8 terracotta portraits, numbered left to right, are above the ground floor windows. We have identified 4 with varying degrees of confidence and we think the others probably include: John Locke, Isaac Newton, John Wesley. But with only hair style, facial hair and collars to go on it's just a guessing game. Have a go, bearing in mind that you are looking for men considered laudable in 1882. And dead - we don't think living men were ever honoured in this way.

Sorry our photos are not too good, but then, we have to say, the terracotta portraits are not the best quality themselves, though not as bad as this one.

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

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Caxton Hall - head 2 - Caxton

Subjects commemorated i

William Caxton

Probably born Tenterden, Kent. Printer, in 1474, producing the first book pr...

Read More

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Caxton Hall - head 2 - Caxton

Also at this site i

Caxton Hall - foundation stone

Caxton Hall - foundation stone

The Town Hall Westminster This foundation stone was laid March 29th 1882 by t...

Read More

Caxton Hall - head 1 - Milton

Caxton Hall - head 1 - Milton

But look at head 8 too, that's also a candidate for Milton.

Read More

Caxton Hall - head 4 - unidentified

Caxton Hall - head 4 - unidentified

Possibly John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester. His hat is spot on (possibly sta...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Queen Victoria - Regent's Park

Queen Victoria - Regent's Park

NW1, Regent's Park, Broad Walk

The four pediments of this edifice contain: north - a clock face west - Prince Albert relief bust south - Jehangir relief bust east -...

1 subject commemorated
Imperial College - Beit

Imperial College - Beit

SW7, Prince Consort Road, Imperial College

This building, the Royal School of Mines, (1906, Aston Webb). has 34 memorials: a foundation stone, 2 busts and 30 scientists' surnames p...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
193 Fleet Street - 6 - Raphael

193 Fleet Street - 6 - Raphael

EC4, Fleet Street, 193

Building erected in 1883 by George Attenborough for his jewellery and pawn-broking business, Attenborough and Sons. Architects: Archer an...

1 subject commemorated
Hippocrates

Hippocrates

WC1, Gower Street, 136

"Lewis's" is carved up at the top of the building.

2 subjects commemorated
Sir Henry Tate

Sir Henry Tate

SW2, Effra Road, Brixton Tate Library

The inscribed day of death, 8, is consistently contradicted by other sources which give 5. The inscription on the rear of the plinth is a...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator