Plaque

Wiliam Whiteley - biographical plaque

Inscription

William Whiteley, the founder of this Trust, was born at Agbrigg, Yorks on the 29th September 1831. Educated at Pontefract and apprenticed at the age of 16 to a drapery firm in Wakefield, he went to London to see the Great Exhibition of 1851 and the busy life of the metropolis attracted him. He spent 10 years of thrift and constant study with a city firm and then started a small business of his own at 63 Westbourne Grove. Before very long he had won for himself the name of the universal provider and for his business a worldwide reputation. He was the pioneer of the great London retail stores of the 19th and 20th centuries. He died in London the 24th of January 1907.

Site: Whiteley Village (5 memorials)

KT12, Whiteley Village

The Listing text says the statue and the relief are of copper, not the more usual bronze. The front of the plinth below the seated lady supports (top to bottom): the relief; the plaque; the foundation stone. The biographical plaque is on the back.

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Wiliam Whiteley - biographical plaque

Subjects commemorated i

William Whiteley

Entrepreneur and founder of Whiteley's department store on Queensway, now Whi...

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Wiliam Whiteley - biographical plaque

Also at this site i

Whiteley Village - foundation stone

Whiteley Village - foundation stone

This foundation stone was laid by the Right Honourable and Right Reverend Art...

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Wiliam Whiteley - sculpture

Wiliam Whiteley - sculpture

Maybe on an overcast day it would be possible to photograph the north facing ...

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William Whiteley - bust

William Whiteley - bust

1831    1907 William Whiteley {On ribbon:} labora et vive {Latin for: work a...

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William Whiteley - plaque

William Whiteley - plaque

The quotation is from Psalm 41.1.

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Nearby Memorials

Harold Mugford VC - E6

Harold Mugford VC - E6

E6, High Street South, East Ham Central Park

There is another pavement plaque for him in SE16 which was unveiled on the same day.

War served | WW1
2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Trenchard - RAF

Trenchard - RAF

SW1, Victoria Embankment, Victoria Embankment Gardens - Whitehall section

The building behind is the former Air Ministry.  We thank Jamie Davis for finding this link to the British Pathe news film of the unveili...

1 subject commemorated
Soho Fire Station - King's Cross fire

Soho Fire Station - King's Cross fire

W1, Shaftesbury Avenue, Soho Fire Station, 126

From Emergency we know that this plaque was erected on or before 19 July 2017.

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Garden House & Duke of Westminster

Garden House & Duke of Westminster

E1, Whitechapel Road, Royal London Hospital

The two plaques are on the building behind the statue. 2019: Londonist reported that this hospital is going "About To Undergo A Stunning...

1 creator
Chamberlain - LSHTM

Chamberlain - LSHTM

WC1, Gower Street, School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Neville's father, Joseph, had been involved in the School's foundation in 1899. This foundation stone is on the Keppel Street façade. The...

1 subject commemorated