Statue

Whitgift statue

Inscription

{Below the statue:}
Whitgift

Ornamental Passions has some comments on this statue.

Site: Whitgift and others (17 memorials)

CR9, Katharine Street, Croydon Public Library

Built in 1892 by Charles Henman Jr. this heavily decorated complex of buildings makes up Croydon's Town Hall. The building and the roundels are covered at Ornamental Passions. Each of the five bays of the frieze carries three portrait roundels. The names, wreathed in either oak or laurel leaves, are given along the tops of the windows just below the pediments, listed here left to right. Ornamental Passions assumes they are all the work of Edwin Roscoe Mullins who did other work on this part of the building.

You would have thought that by 1892 the spelling of Shakespeare would have been sorted out. But this is not the first time we have seen it as "Shakespere" on buildings around this date. Perhaps it was a nod to the fashion for historical romanticism. Of course, in the 16th century, spelling had not settled down, to the extent that Shakespeare himself was inconsistent. His marriage certificate (necessary because at 18 he was under-age) has his name spelt as Shagspeare, accidentally, we are sure.

Archbishop Tillotson takes pride of place at the centre of these portraits. He was born almost 30 years after Whitgift's death and, like Whitgift, became Archbishop of Canterbury. Other than that we can find no reason for his honoured presence here.

Improbably, "Croydon" derives from the Anglo Saxon for "Crocus Valley" (ref: The Londonist)

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:
Whitgift statue

Subjects commemorated i

John Whitgift

Elizabeth I's last Archbishop of Canterbury. The palace used as a summer retr...

Read More

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

Created by i

John Wenlock Rollins

Sculptor whose London works include: the wonderful bronze doorway of the P&a...

Read More

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Whitgift statue

Also at this site i

Nearby Memorials

Henry Irving statue

Henry Irving statue

WC2, Charing Cross Road, National Portrait Gallery grounds.

The erection of the statue was organised by the Irving Memorial Committee on land donated by the City of Westminster.  The Irving Society...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Sherlock Holmes statue

Sherlock Holmes statue

NW1, Baker Street Station

{On the plinth - front:} The great detective. {On the plinth - left:} This statue, commissioned by the Sherlock Holmes Society of Lond...

1 subject commemorated, 3 creators
Edward VII statue - Tooting

Edward VII statue - Tooting

SW17, Tooting High Street, Tooting Broadway station

Nice large bronze reliefs, also by Roseleib/Roslyn, attached to the left and right of the plinth depict Peace and Charity respectively. P...

1 subject commemorated, 7 creators
6 Burlington Gardens - Cuvier

6 Burlington Gardens - Cuvier

W1, Burlington Gardens, 6

There are 22 statues on the façade of this building. Each is labelled with his (always 'his') surname. There are 12 at the top up against...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Sir John Cass Foundation, Aldgate - Charity girl

Sir John Cass Foundation, Aldgate - Charity girl

EC3, Aldgate, Primary School

This building now houses the Junior school of the Foundation established by Sir John Cass. Previously the Sir John Cass's Foundation Prim...

1 subject commemorated