Place    From 1559 

Poets' Corner

Categories: Literature

The popular name for the south transept of Westminster Abbey. Geoffrey Chaucer was the first person to be interred here, although it was for his position as Clerk of Works to the Palace of Westminster, rather than for literary merit. It wasn't until the burial of Edmund Spenser that the tradition began. The name was supposed to have been coined by Oliver Goldsmith. Nowadays occupants are commemorated with a wall or floor tablet rather than actual interment.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Poets' Corner

Commemorated ati

Robert Browning - W8

Robert Browning lived in this house 1887 - 1889, from here his body was taken...

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Other Subjects

D. H. Lawrence

D. H. Lawrence

Novelist and poet (also painter). Born Eastwood, Nottinghamshire. Died Vence, France. Novels include: Lady Chatterley's Lover, Sons and Lovers, Women in Love.

Person, Literature, Seriously Famous, France

2 memorials
Coventry Patmore

Coventry Patmore

Poet and critic. Born at Woodford, Essex. Died Lymington. Web sites giving his poetry are numerous.

Person, Literature, Poetry

2 memorials
Edward Lear

Edward Lear

Born Bowman's Lodge, (now Bowman's Mews), the penultimate of 21 children. Artist and writer of nonsense works, such as The Owl and the Pussycat, and limericks, e.g. There was an old person of Putn...

Person, Art, Literature, Poetry, Seriously Famous, Italy

3 memorials
Lord John Russell

Lord John Russell

Author, Prime Minister.  Born Hertford Street, Mayfair, the 3rd son of the Duke of Bedford. First Earl Russell. One of the Commissioners for the Great Exhibition, 1851.  Prime Minister: 1846-52, 18...

Person, Literature, Politics & Administration

4 memorials
Dilys Powell

Dilys Powell

Journalist. Born Elizabeth Dilys Powell at Lloyd's Bank, Bridgnorth, Shropshire. Although she claimed to have little knowledge of cinema, she was the well-respected film critic for the Sunday Times...

Person, Cinema, Journalism / Publishing, Literature

1 memorial