Born in Coventry. From an acting family her stage career started at age 8. When 17 she retired from the stage to marry artist G.F. Watts, 30 years her senior. Her desire for the stage was greater than that for her husband and they separated after less than a year. She disappeared and her father misidentified a body recovered from the Thames as hers. She resurfaced to reveal that she was, aged 20, having a happy affair with the architect-designer Edward W. Godwin, which produced two children. She went on to have two more marriages, each to actors (Irving and an American 30 years her junior), but her greatest partnership was professional, with the actor/manager Henry Irving. Died at her home in Kent, Smallhythe, which is now a museum. John Gielgud was her great-nephew.
This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Ellen Terry
Commemorated ati
Queen's Theatre - Long Acre
Queen's Theatre The old Queen's Theatre occupied this site for just eleven y...
Other Subjects
Michael Simkins
A prominent show business lawyer who apparently had an obituary in The Times (to which we don't have access). Son of G. Simkins. Michael owned the property in which his brother, Roger, ran the High...
Laurence Olivier, Baron Olivier
Born Dorking, Surrey, as Laurence Kerr Olivier. With his wife Vivien Leigh, he managed the St James's Theatre from 1950 to its closure in 1957. Founding Director of the National Theatre, 1963 - 197...
Lord Bernard Miles
Actor and theatre manager. Born Bernard James Miles at 1 Poplar Terrace, New Road, Hillingdon. He started acting in the 1930s appearing in many of the patriotic films of WW2, and specialising in pe...
Jon Pertwee
Actor. Born 3 Sheffield Terrace, Kensington. Having served in the Royal Navy and the Naval Intelligence Division during WW2 he became widely known during his 18 years (1959–77) playing Chief Petty...
Person, Cinema, Theatre, TV & Radio, USA
Richard Wagner
Composer, conductor, theatre director and John Wayne look-alike. Born Germany. Came to London in 1839, heavily in debt. Stayed at 23-25 Old Compton Street where he begun the Flying Dutchman, inspir...
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Bromley old town hall - 1863
Built in 1863 in the centre of Market Square, on the site of the Bromley Market House. This multi-purpose building was funded by Cole-Childs, who had recently bought the local Manor. He was a coal ...
Henry Jermyn, Earl of St Albans
Diplomat and courtier. Favourite of Queen Henrietta Maria (wife of Charles I). Fought on the King's side in the Civil War and after his execution continued to support the Queen and two princes in ...
Lady Violet Bonham-Carter
Politician and diarist. Born where her parents were living at the time, at Eton House, John Street (now Keat's Grove), Hampstead, as (Helen) Violet Asquith, daughter of PM Herbert. Involved in L...
Nelson - SW19
SW19, Merton Road, Nelson Gardens
"The death" to which this inscription refers is Nelson's, so the gift was made on 21 October 1905 though the gardens were not opened unti...
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