Other

Royal Brunswick Theatre bollards

Inscription

{Below a crown:}
RBT

Site: Royal Brunswick Theatre bollards (1 memorial)

E1, Ensign Street

When the theatres were here the street was named Well Street. There are 10 bollards, some damaged, but the survival of the collection is remarkable. They were probably erected in the first place to keep the carriages of those attending the theatre off the pavement (plus ça change).

Arthur Lloyd has published an article from The Mariners' Church Gospel Temperance Soldiers' and Sailors' Magazine, January 1843. This describes how, following the destruction of the theatre, George Charles Smith RN, minister of the Mariners' Church, Welclose Square arranged for a Sailors Home to be built on the site in 1835. It "is partly built from the bricks and materials that formed the ruins of those intemperance and immoral playhouses". Even more interesting, the article finishes: "The iron posts in front were part of the first purchase made by G. C. Smith, through the agency of Mr Sargent and paid for by Captain Robert Elliot, RN."

It's not clear why the posts/bollards had to be bought separately. Perhaps, being on the pavement and not actually on the site, their ownership was complicated. But it seems they were deliberately saved as a memorial for the theatre and those that died.

We have found a few commemorative bollards: Hyde Park bollards; Millbank PrisonRoyal Military Asylum.

2022: Londonist reviewed a book, Bollardology. And you do, of course, follow the World Bollard Association on Twitter/X.

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:
Royal Brunswick Theatre bollards

Subjects commemorated i

Royal Brunswick Theatre

The Royal Brunswick Theatre was built on the site of a previous theatre, the ...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Norwood Grove bird bath - rim

Norwood Grove bird bath - rim

SW16, Norwood Grove, garden

The initial 'In' has been lost but we think it must have been there.

1 subject commemorated
Arsenal supporters bench

Arsenal supporters bench

N5, Avenell Road, Arsenal Stadium

Our photo shows less than a quarter of this long bench. It's so long you can see it from space, i.e. in Google Satellite View.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Louise Cattell bench

Louise Cattell bench

NW1, Chalk Farm Road, 88

We don't normally collect benches but this was so stunning we photo'd it before we even realised it was a memorial. It was so beautifull...

1 subject commemorated
Eagle Tavern - song

Eagle Tavern - song

N1, Shepherdess Place, The Eagle pub

Up and down the City Road In and out the Eagle That's the way the money goes Pop! Goes the weasel.

2 subjects commemorated
Natasha Baker gold post box

Natasha Baker gold post box

UB8, High Street, Uxbridge

The Braille is a nice touch (ha, ha) but the plaque, on the back of the box, looks pretty cheap, and cheaply fixed - we won't be surprise...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator