91³Ô¹ÏÍø

Bust

Beatty bust

Erection date: 21/10/1948

Inscription

Beatty, 1871 - 1936

Site: Three busts (3 memorials)

WC2, Trafalgar Square

Left to right these busts are: Cunningham, Jellicoe and Beatty, that well known legal firm. (Unusually there is an error in the Margaret Baker book, Discovering London Statues and Monuments - she has the Beatty and Cunningham sculptures the wrong way round - perhaps they have been shuffled.) We thank Jamie Davis for finding to the British Pathe news film of the unveiling of the Beatty and Jellicoe busts which were unveiled simultaneously on Trafalgar Day, 21 October 1948.

The third bust, to Cunningham, was installed much later, in 1967.

The Beatty and Jellicoe memorials each consists of a bust and a fountain containing two bronze sculptural groups jetting water. See Jellicoe and Beatty for these fountains. Originally each bust was directly north of its associated fountain, but in 2003 the square was reconfigured and all 3 busts were moved to their present locations, to the east of the new steps.

is an excellent source of information. has a useful timeline of the development of Trafalgar Square.

Just to the right of Beatty there are some strange brass plaques on the wall. They are not a memorial so we cannot give them their own entry here but we have to comment on them. They are "Imperial Standards of Length", "placed on this site by the Standards Department of the Board of Trade" in 1876. One foot, two feet and Imperial yard, links, chains, perches and poles. If you think you are being cheated bring your suppliers down here to settle the dispute.

 

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Beatty bust

Subjects commemorated i

Earl Beatty

Admiral. Born Nantwich. The youngest non-royal to become Rear Admiral since N...

91³Ô¹ÏÍø

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Beatty bust

Created by i

Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester

Soldier and member of the Royal Family.  Born at Sandringham, third son of Ge...

91³Ô¹ÏÍø

William McMillan

Born Aberdeen, Scotland. During the WW1 he was awarded the British and Victor...

91³Ô¹ÏÍø

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Beatty bust

Also at this site i

Cunningham bust

Cunningham bust

Unveiled by Prince Philip in 1967. Inside the bust there is a ½ pint Guinness...

91³Ô¹ÏÍø

Jellicoe bust

Jellicoe bust

Jellicoe, 1859 - 1935

91³Ô¹ÏÍø

Nearby Memorials

Greenwich roundels - Cook

Greenwich roundels - Cook

SE10, King William Walk, Discover Greenwich (Royal Naval College, Pepys Building)

The roundels on the north, river-facing, frontage are occupied by, left to right: Anson, Drake, Cook, Howard, Blake, Benbow, Sandwich, Ro...

1 subject commemorated
Dickens bust - EC1

Dickens bust - EC1

EC1, Holborn, 273, Holborn Bars (ex-Prudential Building)

Dickens lodged at Furnival's Inn while writing the first part of Pickwick Papers.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Colet - Colet Court

Colet - Colet Court

W6, Hammersmith Road, Colet Court

The bust is above the 1st floor windows, just distinguishable in our photo, above the large red sign. Above the entrance at the east end ...

1 subject commemorated
Chaucer bust - SW1

Chaucer bust - SW1

SW1, Parliament Street, 48, Red Lion Inn

These two busts are above the second floor bay windows, Dickens on Parliament Street, Chaucer on the return in Derby Gate. The building ...

1 subject commemorated
Unknown bust 1

Unknown bust 1

SW1, South Eaton Place, 26

Bust 1, to the south, shows some damage but, we hope you agree, both busts represent the same man. But who? Only a few months later we c...