In my local park, Friary Park in North Finchley we have the statue of Queen Victoria which was intended for the top of the memorial to the Great Exhibition which stands at the back of the Royal Albert Hall (not to be confused with the Albert Memorial). After the death of Albert Queen Victoria insisted that a statue of Albert should stand on top of the memorial so her own statue was consigned to the Royal Horticultural Society's Garden nearby. When the gardens closed Victoria 's statue went into storage but was later donated to our local park which opened in 1910. However, at the time nobody knew it was Queen Victoria and the statue was named Peace. A few years ago a local Historian did some research and discovered the statue's true identity.
Wow... that's a completely new one on me. Thanks again, Diane. I photographed this statue a few years ago, but had no idea of the back story or true identity. https://www.flickr.com/photos/londonmatt/32656519987/
The Russell Square cabman's shelter was originally outside the Haymarket Theatre, the theatre that the shelter’s donor, Sir Squire Bancroft was then managing. It was later moved to Leicester Square where it spent some considerable time. During this time, when the green hut was located in Leicester Square during the war, the siren was sounded and the diners made their way down to the underground air raid shelter. After the all clear, the cabbies made their way back to the shelter to finish what was left of their dinner. To their surprise, all their cabs had been destroyed by a German bomb. Amazingly, the shelter survived with just some superficial damage. The shelter vanished in the late 1980s when pedestrianisation arrived and the shelter became obsolete. The decision was then taken to move the shelter to Russell Square. The shelter was restored in 1987 and again prior to the London 2012 Olympics when it was re-sited yet again in the north-west corner of Russell Square. A plaque outside attests that this shelter was presented by Sir Squire Bancroft a famous actor/manager in 1901.
Fascinating stuff as ever! Never realised so much of old London has moved about so much. It's dizzying at times.
I can offer a couple more if I may. The original statue of Queen Anne which used to stand out front of St Paul's Cathedral from 1712 to 1886 is now to be found, in a sorry state I believe, near Hastings; and a sundial which Wren had originally installed in the clock tower of St Paul's is now to be found on a little patch of grass in Amen Court (where the clergy of the cathedral live a few hundred yards away). For many years the poor sundial languished in the stonemason's yard and was probably lucky to survive. It's been dubbed 'London's most difficult sundial to locate'.
Part of the tower of St Olafs church which used to stand on the south side of London Bridge is now in Tanner Street Park Bermondsey and was recently adapted as a drinking fountain. Two statues in Greenwich were formerly in Central London. King William IV by St Mary's Gate Greenwich Park was in King William Street in the City and Sir Walter Raleigh in the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College was outside the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall. Edward Jenner's statue moved from Trafalgar Square to the Italian Garden in Kensington Garden. There's a gateway from Northumberland House which used to stand where Northumberland Avenue is today at an entrance to a small park in Bromley by Bow known as Bob's Park.
Aha... yes, some excellent additions, Diane. I'd completely forgotten that Jenner was nomadic. And I might well add the Northumberland House arch to the map... I've got a photo.
I'm thinking there might be a sequel to this on statues that have moved around.
And I know you'll know the antivivisection monument, the Brown Dog statue, which caused riots so had to be moved from it's original site in Latchmere Recreation Ground to Battersea Park where it's hidden amongst the bushes. However today's brown dog is a modern version and not the original so that might disqualify it from your list.
That gothic drinking fountain opposite St Paul's is only fairly recent, though I can't remember the date or the origin. Not quite on the scale of Marble Arch, obviously.
The broken up Temple Bar was languishing in a Farringdon salvage yard for ten years until it was spotted by Valerie, Lady Meux, who was a collector of antiquities. Val Wyatt was reportedly the daughter of a Devon butcher before coming to London, where she met Henry Meux while working at a casino in Holborn. Her story is one of love across the Victorian social divide. NB There is no evidence whatsoever for the imputation on various websites that she worked as a prostitute. I believe it to be a slur dating from the 1800s scandal that followed a baronet marrying a bar girl. Happily she didn't give a flying fig for her detractors, installing a roller skating rink at the Meux stately home, being carried around London on a carriage drawn by zebras, and being painted by Whistler. The Meuxes entertained a young Winston Churchill and Prince of Wales Edward Vll-to-be in the upper chamber of Temple Bar. When the City reacquired the structure, it took 9 days to dismantle and 9 months to restore and reassemble.
Okay, I’ll be that guy and ask the possibly stupid question—what’s the deal with the Brixton train viaduct? I heard a rumbling (pun intended) that it was built using repurposed steel from German tanks. Not impossible, but definitely a bit far-fetched. Wish I could say I’m asking for a friend, but nope—this one’s all me
Great post, humorous, and informative. Your map intrigued me, as I grew up in East Sheen and I'd never heard of a tower moving from it. But your text says it came from central London, which is more plausible. But I wonder if you maybe conjoined your thoughts with a Wren tower that moved to Twickenham? https://churchmonumentssociety.org/events/a-wren-tower-in-twickenham
Oh, and a minor correction to the London Bridge alcove; the Courtlands Estate is in Richmond, a bit further West from East Sheen, but I thought I knew it well, as I used to deliver papers there. I'll have to go back and take a look next time I'm over there.
Thanks Tony. I'm not sure I follow your first point... I can't find anywhere on the map where I mention a tower moving to or from East Sheen... as far as I can spot, I only mention East Sheen once, and that's in relation to the London Bridge alcove. The Twickenham tower is correctly labelled at the site of All Hallows Lombard Street. Of course, it's quite possible I made a typo somewhere and now can't spot it.
I think you're right about the East Sheen versus Richmond-ness of Courtlands... though it's kind of on the borderlands. The alcove is usually listed as being in East Sheen, though, so I might leave it as-is, in case people are googling for it.
In my local park, Friary Park in North Finchley we have the statue of Queen Victoria which was intended for the top of the memorial to the Great Exhibition which stands at the back of the Royal Albert Hall (not to be confused with the Albert Memorial). After the death of Albert Queen Victoria insisted that a statue of Albert should stand on top of the memorial so her own statue was consigned to the Royal Horticultural Society's Garden nearby. When the gardens closed Victoria 's statue went into storage but was later donated to our local park which opened in 1910. However, at the time nobody knew it was Queen Victoria and the statue was named Peace. A few years ago a local Historian did some research and discovered the statue's true identity.
Wow... that's a completely new one on me. Thanks again, Diane. I photographed this statue a few years ago, but had no idea of the back story or true identity. https://www.flickr.com/photos/londonmatt/32656519987/
The Russell Square cabman's shelter was originally outside the Haymarket Theatre, the theatre that the shelter’s donor, Sir Squire Bancroft was then managing. It was later moved to Leicester Square where it spent some considerable time. During this time, when the green hut was located in Leicester Square during the war, the siren was sounded and the diners made their way down to the underground air raid shelter. After the all clear, the cabbies made their way back to the shelter to finish what was left of their dinner. To their surprise, all their cabs had been destroyed by a German bomb. Amazingly, the shelter survived with just some superficial damage. The shelter vanished in the late 1980s when pedestrianisation arrived and the shelter became obsolete. The decision was then taken to move the shelter to Russell Square. The shelter was restored in 1987 and again prior to the London 2012 Olympics when it was re-sited yet again in the north-west corner of Russell Square. A plaque outside attests that this shelter was presented by Sir Squire Bancroft a famous actor/manager in 1901.
Excellent addition, David! Thank you.
Fascinating stuff as ever! Never realised so much of old London has moved about so much. It's dizzying at times.
I can offer a couple more if I may. The original statue of Queen Anne which used to stand out front of St Paul's Cathedral from 1712 to 1886 is now to be found, in a sorry state I believe, near Hastings; and a sundial which Wren had originally installed in the clock tower of St Paul's is now to be found on a little patch of grass in Amen Court (where the clergy of the cathedral live a few hundred yards away). For many years the poor sundial languished in the stonemason's yard and was probably lucky to survive. It's been dubbed 'London's most difficult sundial to locate'.
Ah, nice... I didn't know about the sundial. I'll see if I can spot it next time I'm passing. Thank you.
Feeling a bit dizzy….but would add: readers may remember the Floral Hall at Covent Garden before it moved to its current location at Borough Market.
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1392690?section=comments-and-photos
Yes! I knew there was another one nagging away at my brain and I think you just identified it. Thank you.
Brilliant subject for a post. The peregrinations of 'Eros' caused me no end of confusion when writing a book set in 1920s Piccadilly Circus.
Again, a lovely read, research beyond comprehension, Thankyou.
Part of the tower of St Olafs church which used to stand on the south side of London Bridge is now in Tanner Street Park Bermondsey and was recently adapted as a drinking fountain. Two statues in Greenwich were formerly in Central London. King William IV by St Mary's Gate Greenwich Park was in King William Street in the City and Sir Walter Raleigh in the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College was outside the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall. Edward Jenner's statue moved from Trafalgar Square to the Italian Garden in Kensington Garden. There's a gateway from Northumberland House which used to stand where Northumberland Avenue is today at an entrance to a small park in Bromley by Bow known as Bob's Park.
Aha... yes, some excellent additions, Diane. I'd completely forgotten that Jenner was nomadic. And I might well add the Northumberland House arch to the map... I've got a photo.
I'm thinking there might be a sequel to this on statues that have moved around.
And I know you'll know the antivivisection monument, the Brown Dog statue, which caused riots so had to be moved from it's original site in Latchmere Recreation Ground to Battersea Park where it's hidden amongst the bushes. However today's brown dog is a modern version and not the original so that might disqualify it from your list.
That gothic drinking fountain opposite St Paul's is only fairly recent, though I can't remember the date or the origin. Not quite on the scale of Marble Arch, obviously.
It was formerly outside St Lawrence Jewry Church near Guildhall
Thank you Matt this is very interesting
Informative and humourous. Thanks for your endless endeavours to explicate and entertain.
The broken up Temple Bar was languishing in a Farringdon salvage yard for ten years until it was spotted by Valerie, Lady Meux, who was a collector of antiquities. Val Wyatt was reportedly the daughter of a Devon butcher before coming to London, where she met Henry Meux while working at a casino in Holborn. Her story is one of love across the Victorian social divide. NB There is no evidence whatsoever for the imputation on various websites that she worked as a prostitute. I believe it to be a slur dating from the 1800s scandal that followed a baronet marrying a bar girl. Happily she didn't give a flying fig for her detractors, installing a roller skating rink at the Meux stately home, being carried around London on a carriage drawn by zebras, and being painted by Whistler. The Meuxes entertained a young Winston Churchill and Prince of Wales Edward Vll-to-be in the upper chamber of Temple Bar. When the City reacquired the structure, it took 9 days to dismantle and 9 months to restore and reassemble.
https://londonhistorians.wordpress.com/2011/10/17/why-dont-you-come-on-over-valerie-the-remarkable-lady-meux/
What a life! Thanks for that wonderful digression, Ali.
Hi Matt, if you’d like to visit Temple Bar and hear more of the fascinating history of this Baroque structure, please email me:
hello@templebar.london
Grant Smith
Okay, I’ll be that guy and ask the possibly stupid question—what’s the deal with the Brixton train viaduct? I heard a rumbling (pun intended) that it was built using repurposed steel from German tanks. Not impossible, but definitely a bit far-fetched. Wish I could say I’m asking for a friend, but nope—this one’s all me
Oo, interesting. I've never heard that one before. It seems a bit fishy, thinking about the logistics of such a thing, but it's possible I guess.
Great post, humorous, and informative. Your map intrigued me, as I grew up in East Sheen and I'd never heard of a tower moving from it. But your text says it came from central London, which is more plausible. But I wonder if you maybe conjoined your thoughts with a Wren tower that moved to Twickenham? https://churchmonumentssociety.org/events/a-wren-tower-in-twickenham
Oh, and a minor correction to the London Bridge alcove; the Courtlands Estate is in Richmond, a bit further West from East Sheen, but I thought I knew it well, as I used to deliver papers there. I'll have to go back and take a look next time I'm over there.
Thanks Tony. I'm not sure I follow your first point... I can't find anywhere on the map where I mention a tower moving to or from East Sheen... as far as I can spot, I only mention East Sheen once, and that's in relation to the London Bridge alcove. The Twickenham tower is correctly labelled at the site of All Hallows Lombard Street. Of course, it's quite possible I made a typo somewhere and now can't spot it.
I think you're right about the East Sheen versus Richmond-ness of Courtlands... though it's kind of on the borderlands. The alcove is usually listed as being in East Sheen, though, so I might leave it as-is, in case people are googling for it.
The old London Bridge alcoves relocated to Victoria Park. If that counts
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/victoria-parks-old-london-bridge-alcoves