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

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

Dame Edith Sitwell

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
Moby Dick

Moby Dick

Written by Herman Melville. First published, in London, in 1851.

Animal, Literature, Seriously Famous

1 memorial
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
Dr. Frederick James Furnivall

Dr. Frederick James Furnivall

Born Egham, Surrey. Scholar and editor. He became honorary secretary of the philological society in 1853, where he laid the foundations for the Oxford English Dictionary. He founded a number of soc...

Person, Literature

1 memorial
J.B. Priestley

J.B. Priestley

Novelist, playwright and essayist. Wrote "When we are married" and "An Inspector Calls".

Person, Literature, Theatre

1 memorial