Public Monument and Sculpture Association National Recording Project
William Morris Photograph
Region ID | UEL | |
Work ID | 229 | |
Manual Reference | BE018 | |
Type | Sculpture | |
Title | William Morris | |
Sculptor | Ravera, John | |
Architect | Epps, Walter M. | |
Date of design | ||
Year of unveiling | ||
Unveiling details | ||
Road | Broadway | |
Precise Location | In niche high up on east face of clock tower in pedestrianised area opposite shopping centre | |
A to Z Ref | 97 3L | |
OS Ref | ||
Postcode | DA6 | |
Work is | Extant | |
Listing Status | Don't know | |
Duty of Care | ||
Commissioned by | ||
Notes | ||
Head and shoulders of William Morris as a young man. | ||
The bust was commissioned by Bexley Council to mark the 100th anniversary of William Morris's death. Edward Hollamby, the architect who lived in the Red House until his death in 1999 was involved in the project. Ravera produced a portrait bust of Morris based on historic reference. Morris lived in Bexleyheath when he was quite young, under 30, for about six years before he moved to London. The bust faces east, towards Rochester, (Morris connection, what was it?). Ravera was originally asked to produce a portrait of Morris at the age he was when he lived locally, but he was not sufficiently recognisable as this is not how he is usually seen in his portraits. The sculpture was therefore 'aged', giving him a longer beard, for instance. When the two busts on the clocktower, George V and William Morris, were in situ, people commented that they had been cleaned and replaced, even though one (George) had not been there since the war and the other was entirely new! | ||
William Morris (1834-96) who, as a young man, lived nearby in the Red House in Bexleyheath which was designed for him by Philip Webb in 1859. Several of his artist friends lived and worked there with him. | ||
circa | ||
raw year | ||
Condition | Good | |
At risk | Not at risk | |
Inscriptions | On south side on stone plaque on rusticated stonework at base of tower, incised letters: THIS TOWER / WAS ERECTED BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION / AS A LOYAL TRIBUTE / FROM THE INHABITANTS OF / BEXLEYHEATH TO COMMEMORATE / THE CORONATION OF HIS MAJESTY / KING GEORGE .V. / 1911 / G. SHELDON. J.P CHAIRMAN / BEXLEY URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL / THOMAS. G.[or ?C.] BAYNES. WALTER. M. EPPS. A.R.I.B.A / CLERK ARCHITECT [These last two words are set on a separate line beneath the names, i.e.Thomas Baynes was the clerk, Walter Epps was the architect] | |
Signatures | ||
Elements
Element Details
Part of work | Material | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|
Whole work | Stone finished resin | |
Assessment of Condition
Surface Character: nothing recorded Structural Condition: nothing recorded Vandalism: nothing recorded