91³Ô¹ÏÍø

Plaque

The Round Table

Inscription

Round Table
The neighbourhood of St. Martins Lane was, in the middle of the Eighteenth century, the resort of 'horsy and fighting men'. The most popular house in the early days being 'Ben Caunts Head' after the Nottinghamshire giant who was at one time the landlord.
It was in these taverns that the fancy regularly met for many years and arranged historical fights including, in October 1805, the encounter between Jim Belcher and the Game Chicken, staged by Earl Grosvenor, Colonel Mellish and Captain Halliday.
The Round Table played its part during these times, putting up the American Champion, John C. Heenan, when he came to contest the belt with the valiant Tom Sayers, the famous Sussex fighter.
The sign of the Round Table indicated during these times that even-handed justice was observed within and that all corners were treated alike.
The present building dates back to 1877 when the area had major redevelopment to provide for a road between Oxford Street and Charing Cross. This reconstruction made available land which was bought and built upon by Sir Charles Wyndham, the famous Actor Manager, and so began the traditions of theatre land with the Wyndhams and Albery Theatres named after the owner and stepson respectively.
In the following years the Round Table has grown closer to the world of theatre and is a welcome meeting place for actors and audience alike.

Site: The Round Table (1 memorial)

WC2, St Martin's Court

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:
The Round Table

Subjects commemorated i

Jim Belcher (or Jem)

Boxer. Won the English heavyweight prize-fighting championship in 1800, retai...

91³Ô¹ÏÍø

John C. Heenan

American boxer.  Born New York state.  Not the Archbishop, John Camel Heenan,...

91³Ô¹ÏÍø

Henry the 'Game Chicken' Pearce

Bare-knuckle prizefighter. Born in Bristol. He fought under the London Prize ...

91³Ô¹ÏÍø

Tom Sayers

Boxer Born Pimlico. Worked as a bricklayer building King's Cross Station. Bec...

91³Ô¹ÏÍø

Show all 6

Nearby Memorials

Leyton Library

Leyton Library

E10, High Road Leyton, 273

Leyton Library Grade II listed building, designed by John Knight in an Italianate style and opened in 1882 as Leyton Town Hall . Outgrown...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Black Prince Road ceramics - plaque 07

Black Prince Road ceramics - plaque 07

SE11, Black Prince Road, Tunnel underneath railway bridge

These lovely ceramics plaques were installed some time in or before 2008. There are 12 oval ceramics of which 7 nos 1-7) are mosaic and r...

1 subject commemorated
Collins Music Hall

Collins Music Hall

N1, Islington Green, 11

A square 'Blue Plaque' - a novelty.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Rowland Hill - NW3 - third erection

Rowland Hill - NW3 - third erection

NW3, Rowland Hill Street, Pears Building, Royal Free Hospital

For information about where this plaque has been erected before see Rowland Hill - NW3 - second erection (and stop tittering at the back)...

3 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Max Wall

Max Wall

SW9, Mowll Street, 38 - 40 Glenshaw Mansions

Max Wall, entertainer, 1908 - 1990, was born here. The Max Wall Society The Heritage Foundation

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators