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Statue

Whitgift statue

Inscription

{Below the statue:}
Whitgift

has some comments on this statue.

Site: Whitgift and others (17 memorials)

CR9, Katharine Street, Croydon Public Library

Built in 1892 by Charles Henman Jr. this heavily decorated group of buildings makes up Croydon's Municipal buildings complex. The building and the roundels are covered at . Each of the five bays of the frieze carries three portrait roundels. The names, wreathed in either oak or laurel leaves, are given along the tops of the windows just below the pediments, listed here left to right. Ornamental Passions assumes they are all the work of Edwin Roscoe Mullins who did other work on this part of the building.

You would have thought that by 1892 the spelling of Shakespeare would have been sorted out. But this is not the first time we have seen it as "Shakespere" on buildings around this date. Perhaps it was a nod to the fashion for historical romanticism. Of course, in the 16th century, spelling had not settled down, to the extent that Shakespeare himself was inconsistent. His marriage certificate (necessary because at 18 he was under-age) has his name spelt as Shagspeare, accidentally, we are sure.

Archbishop Tillotson takes pride of place at the centre of these portraits. He was born almost 30 years after Whitgift's death and, like Whitgift, became Archbishop of Canterbury. Other than that we can find no reason for his honoured presence here.

Improbably, "Croydon" derives from the Anglo Saxon for "Crocus Valley" (ref: )

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Whitgift statue

Subjects commemorated i

John Whitgift

Elizabeth I's last Archbishop of Canterbury. The palace used as a summer retr...

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

Created by i

John Wenlock Rollins

Sculptor whose London works include: the wonderful bronze doorway of the P&a...

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Whitgift statue

Also at this site i

Nearby Memorials

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St John of Wapping  - charity girl

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Margaret MacDonald

Margaret MacDonald

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1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
City of London School 0 - More

City of London School 0 - More

EC4, Victoria Embankment, 60

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Kitchener statue

Kitchener statue

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{On the front of the plinth:} Kitchener, 1850 - 1916 {On the front of the lower shallow plinth:} Erected by Parliament  {Inscribed on t...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators