1850

William Wordsworth

Romantic poet. Born Cumberland, with the perfect name for a poet (see Isambard Brunel for more examples of nominative determinism). Died Grasmere, the Lake District. Passing through London in 1802 on his way to visit his ex-mistress and their daughter in France he was impressed with the view from Westminster Bridge and composed surely the best poem ever written about London: "Earth hath not anything to show more fair....".

The poem's full title is 'Composed upon Westminster Bridge, 3 September 1802' which is rather confusing since they crossed the bridge on 31 July 1802. It was first published in 1807.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
William Wordsworth

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Composed upon Westminster Bridge

W. Somerset Maugham's novel Of Human Bondage (P654-5) contains a lovely descr...

This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
William Wordsworth

Creations i

Stockwell WW1 memorial

The design of this Portland stone clock tower was chosen through competition ...

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Other Subjects

Rudyard Kipling

Poet and story writer. Born: Bombay, India. Died: London. See Waterloo Free Buffet. 2021: The Guardian reported some updates to English Heritage's information on Kipling: "While his children’s sto...

Person, Literature, Poetry, Race Issues, Seriously Famous, India

2 memorials

Edgar A Bowring

There is much of interest in this man's life. Born the son of a career diplomat who served for a time as Governor of Hong Kong, his mother was poisoned with arsenic whilst in Hong Kong and died in ...

Person, Poetry, Politics & Administration

1 memorial

Dame Edith Sitwell

Poet and biographer. Born at Scarborough into the aristocracy. 6-foot tall, with elongated features she added to the effect with her exuberant flowing and ornate clothing. Her poetry was avant ...

Person, Literature, Poetry, Seriously Famous

2 memorials

Percy Bysshe Shelley

Poet. Born at Field Place, near Horsham in Sussex. Had a habit of eloping with and then marrying 16 or 17 year olds: first Harriet Westbrook. When she, pregnant, drowned herself in the Serpentine P...

Person, Poetry, Seriously Famous, Italy

6 memorials

Robert Burns

Born Alloway, Ayrshire. Wrote in the Scots language, and also in a Scots dialect which is accessible to English speakers. Also collected traditional songs. Scots the world over celebrate his birth ...

Person, Poetry, Seriously Famous, Scotland

1 memorial

Previously viewed

E. J. Bird

Surbiton man killed serving in WW1. Did he work at the Stock Exchange?

Person

War dead, WW1

1 memorial

Normansfield Asylum

See Lost Hospitals of London for an excellent history of this hospital. Briefly: The White House, a mansion with 5 acres of grounds, was built in 1866. Dr Langdon Down and his wife Mary bought it ...

Group, Children, Medicine

1 memorial

Hy. Gunn

Resident of the West Ward, Hendon who served and died in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1

1 memorial

Gus Elen

Music-hall singer. Born Ernest Augustine Elen at 103 Pulford Street, Pimlico. He started performing in public houses in 1891, singing songs about working-class life. Moving on to the stage, he beca...

Person, Music / songs, Theatre

1 memorial

Bow Fair

Known as the Green Goose fair, it was held on the Thursday after Pentecost. A green goose was a young or mid-summer goose, and also a slang term for a cuckold or a low woman. In 1630, John Taylor, ...

Event, Commerce

1 memorial