91³Ô¹ÏÍø

Plaque

(lost) Paul Verlaine - lost plaque

Paul Verlaine - lost plaque
Paul Verlaine - lost plaque

Erection date: 1922

Site: Paul Verlaine - lost plaque (1 memorial)

W1, Howland Street, 31

We are told by our Brussels correspondent, Jean-Michel Pochet, that in 1922 a plaque was erected at Howland Street: "Le poète français Paul Verlaine qui vécut ici..." However there were two problems: Firstly, as noted by "The Friends of Arthur Rimbaud", only Verlaine was mentioned, Rimbaud's name having been omitted on grounds of morality. And secondly, the street numbers having changed, the plaque was on the wrong house. This was all solved when, in 1938 the house was demolished. A Mr Underwood saved the plaque and gave it to the Verlaine Bibliothèque, but today no one can find it.

All we can add is that it is not (2016) in Howland Street and Rimbaud was probably omitted because, at the time, he was just not considered worthy of mention. See Verlaine's plaque in Royal College Street for more information about Verlaine's time in London with Rimbaud.

Some information about this address is given in : Shortly before 24 September 1872 Verlaine and Rimbaud moved into a room in 34 Howland Street, in an eighteenth century terrace. This was pulled down in 1938 and in the 1960’s the Post Office Tower was erected on the site. Robb confirms that the plaque did not mention Rimbaud.

On the we learnt that this plaque was unveiled by French poet Paul Valery.

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:
Paul Verlaine - lost plaque

Subjects commemorated i

Paul Verlaine

French poet. Born Metz, France. Has been described as an ugly, homicidal alco...

91³Ô¹ÏÍø

Nearby Memorials

Thomas Smith Tait

Thomas Smith Tait

NW11, Wyldes Close, Gates House

The plaque is on the side of the house in Hampstead Way. Tait lived here for 21 years in the 1920s and 30s.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Robert Baden-Powell - Wimbledon

Robert Baden-Powell - Wimbledon

SW19, Windmill Road, Wimbledon Windmill Museum

The gray plaque is above the entrance to the windmill museum; the brown plaque is at the centre of the four windows towards the left of o...

3 subjects commemorated
London Coliseum

London Coliseum

WC2, St Martin's Lane, London Coliseum

The SWET plaque is outside. To see the bust, walk to the back of the foyer, turn right, through a door, the bust is immediately on your l...

3 subjects commemorated, 2 creators
Iyengar Yoga Institute

Iyengar Yoga Institute

SE14, New Cross Road, 470

The decorative shield is in the pediment. The Iyengar plaque is below the window on the left. Although the New Cross (Equitable) Buildin...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Laurence Pountney Church

Laurence Pountney Church

EC4, Laurence Pountney Hill

Site of Laurence Pountney Church and Corpus Christi College. Destroyed in the Great Fire 1666. The Corporation of the City of London

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator