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

Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie

Detective novelist and playwright.  Born in Torquay, into a well-off family, where a bust has been erected, as Agatha Miller.  Married Archie Christie in 1914.  In WW1 she trained and worked in a p...

Person, Cinema, Literature, Seriously Famous, TV & Radio

5 memorials
Gavin Maxwell

Gavin Maxwell

Author and Naturalist. Born at House of Elrig, Mochrum, Wigtownshire. During World War II he served as an instructor with the Special Operations Executive. In 1956 he toured the reed marshes of Sou...

Person, Animals, Literature, Iraq, Scotland

1 memorial
Virginia Woolf

Virginia Woolf

Born as Adeline Virginia Stephen in Hyde Park Gate, London. Drowned herself in the River Ouse Rodmell, Sussex by filling pockets with stones. Virginia and Leonard Woolf lived at no. 52 Tavistock S...

Person, Literature, Seriously Famous

9 memorials
Edward Sackville-West

Edward Sackville-West

Edward Charles Sackville-West, 5th Baron Sackville was a music critic, novelist and, in his last 3 years, a member of the House of Lords. Born at Cadogan Gardens, son of Major-General Charles John...

Person, Literature, Music / songs, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
William Harnett Blanch

William Harnett Blanch

Historian. Born into a family of gun and rifle manufacturers, he was a prolific writer of books, mainly about the local history of London. He also founded The London Thirteen Club as a means of de...

Person, Engineering, Literature

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Yasemin Sivri

Yasemin Sivri

19 years old, artist

Person, Tragedy, Turkey

1 memorial
Mothers' Union

Mothers' Union

International Christian charity that seeks to support families worldwide. Founded by Mary Sumner near Winchester, in the parish where her husband was rector. With the support of the Bishop of Winch...

Group, Community / Clubs, Religion

2 memorials
Edvard Grieg

Edvard Grieg

SW4, Clapham Common North Side, 47

Edvard Grieg, 1843 - 1907, Norwegian composer, stayed here when performing in London. English Heritage 

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator