Statue

Crutched Friars

Erection date: 1985

Inscription

{On the inside of the scroll held by the friar on the left is an inscription that is not intended for easy reading:}
??? the ???????di ntial {Basically, we can't read it. Take a ladder and a torch if you want to have a go.}

Red granite and off-white marble with some bronze. Close examination of this lovely sculpture revealed the secret inscription and a key (a real, modern-day mortice key) hidden on the step below the habit of the friar on the right. We left it there, and it was still there a few months later.

But isn't this sculpture just lovely? The post-modern optical illusion of the steps and the entrance, the asymmetrical bollard and the smoothness of the stone that just makes you want to stroke it. One of our favourites.

Ornamental Passions don't like it as much as we do.

Site: Crutched Friars (1 memorial)

EC3, Crutched Friars, Friary Court

This unusually acceptable post-modern building, designed by Chapman Taylor Partners, was erected by Commercial Union Assurance in 1984-5. 



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:
Crutched Friars

Subjects commemorated i

Friars of the Holy Cross, Crutched Friars

Their odd name is just a corruption of 'Crossed', a reference to the red clot...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Crutched Friars

Created by i

Michael Black

Sculptor, based in Oxford  active around 1971 - 85. 2023: We were sorry to r...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Imperial Hotel - statue 17

Imperial Hotel - statue 17

WC1, Russell Square

On this site there used to be a sister hotel to Hotel Russell, also designed by Charles Fitzroy Doll and erected in 1898. It was demolish...

1 creator
Apollo Inn

Apollo Inn

WC1, St George's Gardens

An information board near an entrance to the gardens informs: "Euterpe the Muse of Instrumental Music. Terracotta figure, one of the nin...

1 subject commemorated, 3 creators
Westminster Abbey E - Martin Luther King

Westminster Abbey E - Martin Luther King

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
Colin Campbell

Colin Campbell

SW1, Waterloo Place

This is a rather grand memorial: the statue with Campbell resting his telescope on a palm-tree stump, being atop a fat pink marble pillar...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Charles James Fox - statue

Charles James Fox - statue

WC1, Bloomsbury Square Gardens

He holds a copy of the Magna Carta in his right hand.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator