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

E. V. Knox

E. V. Knox

Editor of Punch, 1932 - 1949, essayist and poet. Used the penname Evoe. In 1977 his daughter, Penelope Fitzgerald the author, wrote a biography, "The Knox Brothers" of him and his two brothers.

Person, Journalism / Publishing, Literature

1 memorial
Thomas Hardy

Thomas Hardy

Novelist and poet, best known for his novels set in rural 'Wessex' such as Tess of the d'Urbervilles and Far from the Madding Crowd. Born Upper Bockhampton, Dorset. Before turning to writing full-t...

Person, Literature, Poetry, Seriously Famous

3 memorials
Sir Edmund Gosse

Sir Edmund Gosse

Born 13 Trafalgar Terrace (now 56 Mortimer Road), Hackney, son of Philip Gosse. Writer, best known for his book ‘Father and Son’ which is partly autobiographical and depicts the new generation free...

Person, Literature

2 memorials
Michael Flanders

Michael Flanders

Broadcaster, writer and performer. Born Michael Henry Flanders in Hampstead. He served in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, but contracted poliomyelitis and spent the rest of his life as a wheelcha...

Person, Literature, Music / songs, Theatre, TV & Radio, Wales

1 memorial
Steven Berkoff

Steven Berkoff

Actor, playwright, author and director.  Born Leslie Steven Berks in Stepney.  After studying at the École Jacques Lecoq in Paris, he founded the London Theatre Group where he directed his own adap...

Person, Cinema, Literature, Theatre, TV & Radio, France

2 memorials