Bust

Knightsbridge - 5 - Temple

Erection date: 1905

We original thought this was Gladstone (who had died only a few years before) but Lea Cornthwaite has suggested Frederick Temple, pointing out the clothing looks religious, and we think that is a better match (the hair in particular).

Site: Knightsbridge - 6 busts (6 memorials)

SW1, Knightsbridge, 55 - 91

This huge building, Grade 2 listed and in need of a clean, is actually 18 buildings behind a unifying facade designed by W. D. Caroe, in red brick with stone dressings in an eclectic Queen Anne/Flemish style. 1902 - 5. Built as a mansion block but unusually there were seven developers who designed their own segments behind the facade.

A 2010 planning application contains a few drawings and early photographs but there is no mention of these busts, numbered here left to right.  

When we published these 6 busts we were pretty confident with our identification of heads 1 and 2 but were struggling to identify the others.  Readers quickly sent in some helpful suggestions, readers more familiar with the faces of celebrities from that period than we are.  So we have corrected our identifications, but if you think we still have it wrong please let us know.

The second floor corner at Wilton Place carries a rather splendid royal crest with the top-most lion looking more like a lap-dog.

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Knightsbridge - 5 - Temple

Subjects commemorated i

Frederick Temple, Bishop of London

Born Greece. Bought up in Devon. 1876 married Beatrice Blanche Lascelles. Bis...

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Knightsbridge - 5 - Temple

Also at this site i

Knightsbridge - 3 - Roberts

Knightsbridge - 3 - Roberts

Stephen Brasher suggested that this is Field Marshal Lord Roberts and, having...

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Knightsbridge - 4 - Kitchener

Knightsbridge - 4 - Kitchener

Stalin?  Can't be - for so many reasons, one being that he didn't look like t...

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Knightsbridge - 6 - Salisbury

Knightsbridge - 6 - Salisbury

Lea Cornthwaite suggested this might be the Duke of Cambridge. Stephen Brashe...

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Nearby Memorials

Kilburn head - 4 - Beethoven

Kilburn head - 4 - Beethoven

NW6, Kilburn High Road, 70-72 Traid

We've numbered these heads left to right and identified them ourselves. Do let us know if you think otherwise. The building is very plain...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Grosvenor Hotel - head 02 - Palmerston

Grosvenor Hotel - head 02 - Palmerston

SW1, Buckingham Palace Road, Grosvenor Hotel

2018: Via Facebook (on head 3 page) Jackie Hoare directed us to the Telegraph article which mentions Palmerston as one of these heads. Th...

1 subject commemorated
Bertrand Russell bust

Bertrand Russell bust

WC1, Red Lion Square, Garden

Bust was made in 1980, the same year that Camden gave permission for it to be placed in the square and an appeal for funds was launched.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Markham

Markham

SW7, Kensington Gore, Royal Geographic Society

This monument in the memory of Sir Clements Markham, K.C.B., F.R.S. & 12 years President of the Royal Geographic Society was erected ...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Greenwich roundels - Cook

Greenwich roundels - Cook

SE10, King William Walk, Discover Greenwich (Royal Naval College, Pepys Building)

The roundels on the north, river-facing, frontage are occupied by, left to right: Anson, Drake, Cook, Howard, Blake, Benbow, Sandwich, Ro...

1 subject commemorated