Statue

Robert Clayton statue

Erection date: 1701

Inscription

{Inscribed on the right side of the plinth:}
To Sr. Robert Clayton Knight, born in Northamptonshire, citizen and Lord Mayor of London, President of this Hospital, Vice-President of the new work house, and a bountiful benefactor to it, a just magistrate, and brave defender of the liberty and religion of his country, who besides many other instances of charity to the poor, built the girls’ ward in Christ’s Hospital, gave first toward the rebuilding of this house £600 and left by his last will £2,300 to the poor of it. This statue was erected in his life time by the governors. A. D. MDCCI as a monument of their esteem of so much worth, and to preserve his memory after death was by them beautified, A.D. MDCCXIV.

{The left side of the plinth carries the same inscription in Latin.}

The inscription is quite badly damaged but we found a transcription in a 1776 book on the history of London, which is, we believe, very close to what is actually there. It says the statue was erected in 1701, while Clayton was still alive, and improved in some way in 1714 (the addition of this inscription at least), seven years after his death.

The front of the plinth has a high relief showing 2 rather ugly and damaged cherubs presenting a shield with a red cross (st George) with a raised white boss on the white background.

Site: Robert Clayton statue (1 memorial)

SE1, St Thomas's Hospital, Millennium Garden

This Grade 1 Listed statue was first erected in Southwark at St Thomas's Hospital (in the third court which he had funded). c.1870 it moved here with the hospital.

The setting of this statue is unusual. We believe that classical wall behind, with its pillars and arch is a section of the old hospital building, now demolished, but its distressed surface has surely been created. It's very successful but the atmosphere is rather ruined by the ugly modern building to the left.

See our page for the Thomas Guy statue for the latest on the hospitals' responses to the Black Lives Matter campaigns regarding these statues.

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

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Robert Clayton statue

Subjects commemorated i

Christ's Hospital

Founded by Edward VI in the remains of Greyfriars Monastery for the education...

Read More

Robert Clayton

Born Northamptonshire. Apprenticed as a scrivener (like a secretary). Entered...

Read More

St Thomas' Hospital

Named after Thomas a Becket, so possibly founded after 1173 when Becket was c...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Robert Clayton statue

Created by i

Grinling Gibbons

Born Rotterdam. Wood carver and sculptor. Other works in London: a marble fon...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

St Dunstans - Elizabeth I statue

St Dunstans - Elizabeth I statue

EC4, Fleet Street

On stone above QE's statue: "Parochial Schools. St Dunstan in the west. A.D.1839." The history of this statue (and those of King Lud and ...

1 subject commemorated, 5 creators
More - St George's Cathedral

More - St George's Cathedral

SE1, Lambeth Road

This church is the Metropolitan Cathedral Church of St George, the seat of the Archbishop of Southwark. The building was designed by Augu...

1 subject commemorated
Westminster Abbey J - Wang Zhiming

Westminster Abbey J - Wang Zhiming

SW1, Broad Sanctuary, Westminster Abbey - west porch

Fourteen niches on the West Front remained empty since the Abbey was built until 1998 when they were filled. The lower four are filled wi...

1 subject commemorated, 4 creators
George Washington

George Washington

WC2, Trafalgar Square, The National Gallery front lawn

The marble original is in Richmond, Virginia, USA. This bronze copy was presented by the Commonwealth of Virginia. There is a story that,...

1 subject commemorated, 3 creators
Skipping Katie

Skipping Katie

HA1, Station Road, by 315

The inspiration for the statue was the sculptor's daughter Kate skipping in the garden. It was created to celebrate the opening of the ne...

1 subject commemorated, 5 creators