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

Hilda Doolittle

Hilda Doolittle

Poet and writer. Born Pennsylvania, moved to London in 1911 as an Imagist poet.  Her work was often infused with Greek mythology and she had a particular interest in the poetry of Sappho.  Spent mu...

Person, Literature, Poetry, Switzerland, USA

1 memorial
Khalil Gibran

Khalil Gibran

Lebanese American artist, poet, and writer. Born in what is now Lebanon, emigrated as a young man with his family to US. Best known for The Prophet, 1923, popular in the 60s.

Person, Art, Literature, Poetry, Lebanon, USA

1 memorial
P. D. James

P. D. James

Writer. Born Phyllis Dorothy James in Oxford. Best known for her crime novels, many of them featuring the detective Adam Dalgliesh. Created Baroness James of Holland Park in 1991.

Person, Literature

2 memorials
Charles Hoy Fort

Charles Hoy Fort

Writer, thinker, humourist and investigator. Promoted scientific investigation of the paranormal. Born New York state, came to Europe aged 22. Returned to New York and married Anna in 1896. He bega...

Person, Journalism / Publishing, Literature, Paranormal, USA

2 memorials
Dr Jose Rizal

Dr Jose Rizal

Writer and national hero of the Philippines during the Spanish colonial times. Born Laguna. Executed by firing squad in Manila. He was in London, working at the British Library, May 1888 to January...

Person, Execution, Jack the Ripper suspects, Literature, Nationalism, Philippines

1 memorial