Comments on: The Statues & Effigies of Old London https://spitalfieldslife.com/2013/05/04/the-statues-effigies-of-old-london/ In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London Mon, 21 Mar 2016 12:38:51 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Helen Breen https://spitalfieldslife.com/2013/05/04/the-statues-effigies-of-old-london/#comment-1082708 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 12:38:51 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=88121#comment-1082708 GA, yet another great piece. I go to London often and enjoy checking out every statue that I pass.

I was happy to see GEORGE PEABODY included here. It is quite an impressive statue near the Royal Exchange. Peabody was born poor on a farm in Danvers, Massachusetts in 1795. A self-made entrepreneur, he really invented what we now call “banking” with the help of financiers like J. P. Morgan. He was most philanthropic – spreading his largess to those cities where he made his fortune – Boston, Baltimore, and London especially. He lived in Britain most of his life and was honored by Queen Victoria for building housing for the poor in London.

At his death in 1869, a grand funeral was held at Westminster Abbey. The Queen offered a burial spot in the Abbey, but Peabody had insisted on being buried “at home.” In the meanwhile the town of South Danvers chose to change their name to “Peabody.” A large contingent of dignitaries accompanied his body back to America. On the day of the interment, however, a blizzard drove the mourners (including one of Victoria’s sons) to seek shelter in the humble homes of nearby farmers.

George Peabody never married so he had no heirs. Yet his contributions live on in libraries and museums here and abroad. How do I know? I live next door to Peabody in Lynnfield, Massachusetts.

]]> By: Mike Charlton https://spitalfieldslife.com/2013/05/04/the-statues-effigies-of-old-london/#comment-822553 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 22:11:28 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=88121#comment-822553 Poor old Queen Anne – there was a popular ditty made up about her thanks to that statue of her next to St Paul’s, which went something like:

“Brandy Nan, Brandy Nan, you’re left in the lurch;
Your face to the gin shop, your back to the church.”

I believe the non-arch equine statue of Wellington depicts him astride his favourite horse, Copenhagen. To round off these hearsay statuesque facts, making them a triumvirate, Landseer used the paws of his pet cat to model the lion’s paws of the Trafalgar Square lions.

Another great article and more great pictures! What a wonderful blog this is!

]]> By: Leonard Bentley https://spitalfieldslife.com/2013/05/04/the-statues-effigies-of-old-london/#comment-209844 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 19:46:55 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=88121#comment-209844 Hi,
Very interesting article. The photograph of the Richard I statue is back to front, and I think that the photograph of the Landseer Lion is much earlier than 1910, the building on the left in the background is Morley’s Hotel and the buildings on the right should be the Grand Hotel and the Hotel Victoria if this is 1910. The buildings look like they are being demolished which suggests that this is 1874 or thereabouts when Northumberland House was demolished to make way for Northumberland House, the Grand Hotel was built in 1879 and the Hotel Victoria in 1886.

]]> By: Gary https://spitalfieldslife.com/2013/05/04/the-statues-effigies-of-old-london/#comment-107742 Sat, 04 May 2013 16:44:12 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=88121#comment-107742 I get a feeling of satisfaction from seeing a noble king covered in bird droppings
Gary

]]> By: the gentle author https://spitalfieldslife.com/2013/05/04/the-statues-effigies-of-old-london/#comment-107652 Sat, 04 May 2013 11:09:42 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=88121#comment-107652 In reply to Valerie, saveHOVE.

In Queen’s Sq, Bloomsbury I believe

]]> By: Valerie, saveHOVE https://spitalfieldslife.com/2013/05/04/the-statues-effigies-of-old-london/#comment-107641 Sat, 04 May 2013 10:33:42 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=88121#comment-107641 Is it known where the statue of Caroline of Brunswick is sited/remains/still stands? She was the reviled wife of George, Prince of Wales, Prince Regent (he of the Brighton Royal Pavilion). I have wondered if our Regency Brunswick Town (Brunswick Place, Square, etc.) was named in her honour – she was German.

]]> By: William Palin https://spitalfieldslife.com/2013/05/04/the-statues-effigies-of-old-london/#comment-107610 Sat, 04 May 2013 08:35:57 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=88121#comment-107610 Beautiful and haunting photographs. Thanks GA.

Unless I’m mistaken the pic labelled Richard Cobden is actually Thomas Coram, at the entrance to the Foundling Hospital.

]]> By: Libby Hall https://spitalfieldslife.com/2013/05/04/the-statues-effigies-of-old-london/#comment-107558 Sat, 04 May 2013 05:36:48 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=88121#comment-107558 “…no choice but to carry on watching – growing infinitely wise and eternally bored.”

Lovely!

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