Person    | Male  Born 28/11/1757  Died 12/8/1827

William Blake

Categories: Art, Poetry, Seriously Famous

Poet and artist. Except for 3 years spent on the coast near Bognor, Blake lived his whole life in London, making his living as an engraver. Born at 28 Broad Street, now Broadwick Street (the memorial being in Marshall Street). 1782 married Catherine.

Wrote Jerusalem in his rooms in South Molton Street, the only one of his London homes to survive, other homes being: 28 Broad Street W1; Green Street, near Leicester Square (briefly, no plaque); 28 Poland Street (no plaque);  Hercules Road SE1; 3 Fountain Court at the Strand where he lived his last 7 years and died a poor man. See Tate's William Blake's London for more details.

His friend George Richmond closed Blake's eyes "to keep the vision in". Buried in Bunhill Fields Dissenters' Burial Ground. This was damaged during WW2 and restored in 1960 by which time the precise location of Blake's remains had been forgotten, or at least lost in the archives.

In 2007 there is a campaign to re-mark the grave and to build a monument to this truly great Londoner. And 2018: iNews reports that a new gravestone, in the correct location, will be unveiled in August.

The Blake Archive web site, given as the Picture Source is a magnificent site.

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

Commemorated ati

Bunhill burial ground - 2

In this ground are the vaults of {see the Subjects commemorated for the list ...

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Linnell & Blake

Greater London Council John Linnell, 1792 - 1882, painter lived here. Wil...

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Spirit of Soho Mural

Interesting that Coca Cola are specifically mentioned on the panel but not as...

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William Blake - SE1

The shield with the red crosses is from the Coat of arms of the City of Londo...

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William Blake - SE1 - lost plaque

This plaque, shown in both this drawing (by Adcock from Culture 24) and the p...

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Show all 7

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

Creations i

British Library - Newton

Bronze, 12 foot high (and he's sitting down).  Via Facebook Henri Hudson has ...

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Iolo Morganwg

The plaque of Anglesey Stone designed and carved by Morris was unveiled at mi...

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Start of the third Millennium in Belgrave Square

The poetry is from "Auguries of Innocence" by William Blake.For other armill...

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Other Subjects

Studio Voltaire

Studio Voltaire

Arts organisation.

Group, Art

1 memorial
Sir Alfred Munnings

Sir Alfred Munnings

Born Mendham, Suffolk. Artist specializing in paintings of horses and an opponent of ‘modernism’. The loss of an eye in 1898 did not impair his ability to paint. Knighted 1944. Died at home in ...

Person, Art

2 memorials
Lord Frederick Leighton

Lord Frederick Leighton

Born Scarborough, Yorkshire. President of the Royal Academy. In 1860 Leighton was a first commander of the Artists Rifles. 1892 painted some of the murals at the Royal Exchange. Knighted in 1878. ...

Person, Art

3 memorials
William Etty

William Etty

Painter - pneumatic female nudes a speciality.

Person, Art

1 memorial
James Salisbury

James Salisbury

Lettering craftsman. Creator of memorials, plaques, architectural signage, garden objects and sculptural lettering exhibits. See The Lettering Arts Trust for more of his work.

Person, Art

1 memorial

Previously viewed

W. Willox, MICE

W. Willox, MICE

Engineer with the Metropolitan Railway Company.

Person, Engineering

1 memorial
Tin Pan Alley

Tin Pan Alley

‘Tin Pan Alley’ originally, 1885, referred to the section of New York City where music publishers and songwriters were based.  In 1920s London music shops congregated in Denmark Street and the term...

Place, Journalism / Publishing, Music / songs

1 memorial