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

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Novelist. Born in Salem, Massachusetts. His ancestor was John Hathorne, the only judge involved in the Salem witch trials who never repented of his actions. Nathaniel added a 'w' to his name in ord...

Person, Literature, Seriously Famous, USA

1 memorial
The Picture of Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray

The only novel by Oscar Wilde. The eponymous character, after being painted, casually suggests that in order to enjoy a life of hedonism, he would sell his soul if the picture could age instead of ...

Fiction, Literature

1 memorial
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
Martin Chuzzlewit

Martin Chuzzlewit

Novel by Charles Dickens.  Originally published in serial form 1843–4.  The picture is an ilustration by Fred Barnard from the 1870s.

Fiction, Literature

1 memorial
Aldous Huxley

Aldous Huxley

Writer. Born Aldous Leonard Huxley in Godalming, Surrey, the son of Leonard Huxley. He wrote nearly fifty books, the best known of which are: 'Eyeless in Gaza', 'Antic Hay' and 'Brave New World'. I...

Person, Literature, USA

1 memorial