Comments on: The Heroes Of Postman’s Park

By: David O'Flaherty

David O'Flaherty — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 04:45:24 +0000

I was moved to find young Elizabeth Boxall here, thank you for including her. According to her inquest record, which survives at London Metropolitan Archives, her accident happened in July 1887. She underwent two amputations to one of her legs, spent some time in a convalescent home, then returned home to Tagg Street in Bethnal Green, dying there about a week after her return, on the date given on her memorial. Her last year must have been terrible and depressing. A doctor attended her at home and testified that she complained bitterly that the first amputation was done without her consent (the second one was). Her name in the record is given as “Boxhall” and she was the daughter of a hawker. Apparently she was in charge of a child at the time she was kicked by the horse. It’s good to see her remembered in Postman’s Park, I had no idea of the circumstances of her initial accident. That story’s not in the inquest papers, nor is heroism included in that dark blue shading that Tagg Street bears in Charles Booth’s poverty map, unless it’s to be found in unending labor and chronic want.

By: Dave Fall

Dave Fall — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 17:11:33 +0000

Hi there: As an ex-pat (currently living in Cape Town) I always try and visit Postman(s) Park when back in the City … further info on this delightful gem of a place can be had from ‘This England’ magazine, Winter 2012 edit. (where I, incidentally, picked up on your website apropos Spitalfields and environs … well done!

By: Barbara

Barbara — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 10:50:57 +0000

I fail to see anything funny in these plaques. Would I be brave enough if faced with one of these situations? I guess most of us would. I am left wondering what it would have been like to the families left behind, and my mind wanders when the news was broken. Somehow the two overtaken in quicksands captures me. What a dreadful death.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 22:00:39 +0000

Love Postmans Park. Only shown it three years ago but WOW! Have made sure everyone I go up to London with knows of it now. Moving and poignant memorials to some truly wonderful people

By: Joanna/JamaGenie

Joanna/JamaGenie — Sat, 22 May 2010 22:12:44 +0000

London (and indeed England) is filled with memorials to the rich and titled, or military heroes who were rich or titled or both. How refreshing that G. F. Watts chose to erect a memorial to nobodies who would otherwise have been forgotten despite their heroic deeds. Postman’s Park is definitely a MUST VISIT on my next trip to London.

By: Julian

Julian — Sat, 01 May 2010 20:18:49 +0000

I love this park and think it’s great that all these people, some only young children are still remembered and are being talked about all these years later. Personally I don’t see how the circumstances around any of their deaths can be any source of amusement, what each of them did was incredible.
I’d like to think if I was in the same position as any of them I’d do the same, but I probably wouldn’t be brave enough.

By: John

John — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:17:25 +0000

In answer to Margaret’s question, the first twenty-four tablets (the more randomly decorated, greenish coloured ones that fill the middle row) were designed and made by William De Morgan, a ceramicist and acquaintance of Watts’.

However, in 1906, De Morgan’s debut novel Joseph Vance was an unexpected hit and he decided to abandon his, by then financially waning, ceramics business to become a novelist.

A new manufacturer was sought and eventually the contract was given to Doulton of Lambeth who went on to make the next twenty-nine tablets (the uniformly decorated blue and white ones that form the top and bottom rows). Personally, I much prefer the De Morgan tiles, for me they just convey the Arts and Crafts ethos that partly underpinned the ideas behind the monument itself and they just seem more personal and individual than the Doulton ones.

By: John

John — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:05:48 +0000

The Watts Memorial is most certainly an extremely touching and evocative Victorian curiosity which is extremely close to my heart. I love to spend summer afternoons there, just sitting and listening to people talk about the fascinating tablets and wondering about the stories behind them.
For those eager to find out more about the history of the memorial and the people who feature, a fabulous new book has recently been published by the Watts Gallery. It is entitled ‘Postman’s Park: G. F Watts Memorial to Heroic Self Sacrifice’ and you can get it in the shops nearby the park or online directly from the Watts Gallery at http://www.wattsgallery.org.uk/shop_publications.html
It’s a beautifully illustrated hardback book and only cost £10 which is a real bargain. I’d heartily recommend it for anyone who has any interest in this extraordinary place.

By: Anne

Anne — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:09:41 +0000

How very strange. Loved the post and all previous posts however they are written .

By: Sam Galliers

Sam Galliers — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:41:48 +0000

I have visited Postmans Park – I also have a small book bought in the gift shop of the nearby Museum of London about it. It is a very poignant memorial and hidden away in the little oasis of understated planting (tree ferns) amongst the buildings which tower around it. I am not particularly sentimental but I found myself moved to tears by the plaques. I also listened to a play on Radio 4 a few years ago which was about some of the heroes and heroines which was very well done and enlarged my understanding of the stories – I wonder if it is possible to locate this, as it is well worth listening to. Postmans Park is one of the little hidden treasures of the City.