Erection date: 1913
{Plaque on the south-east face:}
In memory of Stanley B. Atkinson, JP, MA, LLM, MB, BSc, MRCS, LRCP, Barrister-at-law, Stepney Borough Councillor, guardian of the poor, member of Metropolitan Asylums Board. Born 1873. Died 1910.
This tower was erected in 1913 in recognition of his unselfish devotion to the public good.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13.
{Below this large stone plaque are the remains of a bronze plaque, only about two inches of the right hand side, of which can be deciphered:}
. . .d in
. . ture
. . .d to
. . . 34
The door is on the north-west face. Our picture shows the relief "Benevolence" which is on the north-east face. This is not in good condition but "Education", on the south-west face has suffered very badly from the weather.
The tower was moved in 1934 so we imagine that's what the damaged plaque was about.
The text suggests that he "laid down his life for his friends". This is supported by the BMJ obituary which claims his early death was probably due to overwork during a Mile End election campaign.
Site: Stepney Green tower (2 memorials)
E1, Stepney Green
From PMSA we learn: This tower was erected in 1913 in Burdett Road. That's now the main road running down the east side of Mile End Park. It's quite a long road and we don't where exactly the tower was, but in 1934 it was moved to its present location for reasons of road safety (for which read "widening"). The entire job was achieved in a single night, 28 January 1934. The tower was restored in 1994.
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