Plaque

Coronation of George VI - fig tree

Erection date: 17/3/1937

Inscription

Coronation Planting Committee
This fig-tree was given and planted on St. Patrick's Day 1937 by Sir Evan Spicer, DL, to commemorate the crowning of King George VI.
Arthur G. B. West - Rector

This plaque was planned during turbulent times in the royal-watching community. Here's the time-line: 20 January 1936, George V died and Edward ascended the throne as King Edward VIII. 10 December 1936, Edward abdicated. 17 March 1937 fig tree planted. 12 May 1937 coronation of King George VI on the date previously intended for Edward's coronation.

One wonders how the St Dunstans plaque erectors felt when they heard the news on 10 December, with the fig tree on order for 17 March, and a plaque commemorating the coronation of King Edward VIII all ready to go. See the plaque at the City of London School for a plaque committee with an even worse tale of woe to tell.

Site: St Dunstan's in the East (3 memorials)

EC3, St Dunstan's Hill, St Dunstan's in the East Garden

These three plaques are on the south side of the south wall of the ruined church. Our photo shows all three plaques, left to right: fig tree; Gyle-Thomson; garden.

Built c. 1100 this church was severely damaged in the 1666 Great Fire. It was patched up and a Wren-designed tower and steeple was added.  1817-21 the church was rebuilt, retaining the Wren tower and steeple. The church was very badly damaged in the 1941 Blitz, though the tower and steeple survived. It was decided not to rebuild, but to turn the site into a garden amongst the ruins. The public garden opened in 1971 and is, 2020, a truly delightful place to each your sandwiches, or shot your fashion photos as happened on one of our visits.

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:
Coronation of George VI - fig tree

Subjects commemorated i

Coronation of King George VI

George VI's coronation at Westminster Abbey took place on 12 May 1937, the da...

Read More

King George VI

Became king when his brother, Edward VIII, abdicated. Like his father George ...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Coronation of George VI - fig tree

Created by i

Sir Evan Spicer

Liberal and London Progressive politician who served for 30 years (1889 - 191...

Read More

Arthur G. B. West

We were delighted to find this Jack Boothe drawing of West in The Vancouver P...

Read More

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Coronation of George VI - fig tree

Also at this site i

Hugh Gyle-Thomson

Hugh Gyle-Thomson

The plaque spells Thomson without a 'p' and, given the Hugh Gyle-Thompson tha...

Read More

St Dunstan's Garden

St Dunstan's Garden

It's not possible to read all the text but the 1345 date confirms that our (n...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

William Marsden

William Marsden

WC2, Lincoln's Inn Fields, 65

Greater London Council William Marsden, 1796 - 1867, surgeon, founder of the Royal Free and Royal Marsden Hospitals, lived here.

3 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Tower scaffold - 1946

Tower scaffold - 1946

EC3, Tower Green, Tower of London

See Anne Boleyn's plaque for when/how this plaque was displayed.

7 subjects commemorated
Loughton WW2 civilian deaths

Loughton WW2 civilian deaths

IG10, High Road Loughton, Police Station

Unusually for a memorial to civilian deaths the ages and genders are not given, but the repetition of surnames suggests that these deaths...

Civilian war dead | WW2
34 subjects commemorated
Sir Arthur Pearson

Sir Arthur Pearson

W1, Portland Place, 21, Association of Anaesthetists

From English Heritage: "Pearson invited the first two officers to attend St Dunstan’s to live with him in his home in Devonshire Street ...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Lancelot 'Capability' Brown

Lancelot 'Capability' Brown

KT8, Hampton Court Road, Wilderness House

Lancelot 'Capability' Brown, 1716 - 1783, landscape architect lived here, 1764 - 1783. English Heritage

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator