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

Frieze of Parnassus - Scott

Frieze of Parnassus - Scott

SW7, Kensington Road

The monument, officially titled the Prince Consort National Memorial, celebrates Victorian achievement and Prince Albert's passions and i...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
George Peabody statue

George Peabody statue

EC4, Royal Exchange Buildings

Unveiled by the then Prince of Wales, unusually in the subject's lifetime. Too ill to attend the ceremony Peabody died 3 months later. At...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Doctor Alfred Salter - SE16 statue

Doctor Alfred Salter - SE16 statue

SE16, Bermondsey Wall East, Cherry Gardens

The multi-part sculpture is called 'Dr Salter's Daydream' and shows the whole Salter family. The scene is poignant in that Joyce died at ...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Francisco de Miranda statue

Francisco de Miranda statue

W1, Fitzroy Square, London Foot Hospital, 40

Ornamental Passions us that "The statue is a copy of one made in 1895 by the Venezualan sculptor Rafael de la Cova. It was put in positio...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Temple Bar - Anne of Denmark

Temple Bar - Anne of Denmark

EC4, Paternoster Square

We found the following at Discovering Dickens "An 18th-century account of it, from Harrison’s New and Universal History, Description and...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator

Previously viewed

The Boltons Association

The Boltons Association

Founded to protect and improve the environment and to stimulate public interest in the neighbourhood.

Group, Community / Clubs

1 memorial
Albert  Young Hutchinson
War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Private Frederick E. Cole

Private Frederick E. Cole

HMS Thetis, Royal Marine Light Infantry, South Africa.

Person, South Africa

War dead, Other war
1 memorial
Sarah Goulding (Mrs Brown)

Sarah Goulding (Mrs Brown)

Sold Hampstead properties 1779.

Person, Property

1 memorial
River Effra - Chaucer Road

River Effra - Chaucer Road

SE24, Chaucer Road

We're pretty certain that the blue colour is vandalism, or guerrilla art, if you will.

1 subject commemorated, 3 creators