Born near the palace she rebelled against
7 Buckingham Gate SW1E birth place of Constance Georgine Gore-Booth, Countess Markiewicz, nationalist and suffragette (born 1868 died Dublin 1927).
on pavement grey
Where you can find the London addresses that were important to famous Irish people and of people who were important to Ireland.
Archive for the category “Uncategorized”
Crowning the Irish Royalty in Cricklewood
A monument to the unknown Irish immigrant, The Crown on 142-152 Cricklewood Broadway, NW2 3ED where you can view an emigrant-themed painting by Bernard Canavan and other impressions of the builders of Britain. Up the road, across Cricklewood Lane, is the site of its former neighbour the famous Galtymore. Across the road on Chichele Avenue, casual labourers still wait from early morning looking for work .
Three addresses only one Francis Bacon
BACON Francis, artist (born Dublin 1909 died 1992)
17 Queensberry Mews West, 71 Royal Hospital Road and 7 Reece Mews – now moved to the Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin.
Not born in a stable but finished up at the best address in London
WELLINGTON Duke of (Arthur WELLESLEY) soldier and politician,
On being asked about his Irish birth, the Duke replied that being born in a stable doesn’t make one a horse. Bet he only thought of this riposte 10 minutes too late. Maybe he was happier with where he finished up but regardless of his pride in the city, he was born in Dublin 1769 and lived here, Apsley House W1J (No.1 London, Hyde Park Corner – open to the public).
From Kildare to the South Pole via South London
SHACKLETON Sir Ernest Henry, Antarctic explorer (born Co Kildare 1874 died 1922) lived at 12 Westwood Hill, SE26
(Crystal Palace Rail, Penge West Rail)
Two writers and a meteorologist
SHAW George Bernard, writer and dramatist (born Dublin 1856 died 1950)
lived here from 1887 to 1898 – 29 Fitzroy Square, W1 (Warren Street, Great Portland Street)
BEAUFORT Sir Francis, developer of the wind force scale, (born Navan, Co Meath 1774 died 1857)
lived here, 51 Manchester Street, W1 (Bond Street, Baker Street)
He is buried in the church gardens of St John at Hackney, Lower Clapton Rd E5 0PD (Hackney Central/ London Overground)
YEATS William Butler, poet and dramatist (born Dublin 1865 died 150 years ago 1939)
lived here – 23 Fitzroy Road, NW1 and his poem,’ The Lake Isle of Inisfree’ conceived on The Strand, featured the line that inspired the name of this blog.
Introduction
Welcome to On Pavement Grey where you should be able to find places that were important to famous Irish people and places connected with people who were important to Ireland.
Ireland might not be proud of them all and all of them might not be proud to be considered Irish. Nevertheless, maybe this contributes to the idea of what Irishness means. Is it an accident of birth? Where one spent the majority of one’s life? If being born in a country confers citizenship, then should dying in a country not also confer citizenship?
This site brings together names from literature, art, science and politics. Some names will be more familiar than others. To avoid intruding on the living, all of the people featured here are deceased. Unfortunately, being mentioned here does not necessarily mean that you can gain access to a particular house or building. Also, many on the list had connections with many addresses so, for the sake of argument, just one important address is usually featured. Similarly, the ‘job titles’ of many of these polymaths have been trimmed.
While those currently listed have well documented life stories, it would be fitting to somehow acknowledge the countless migrants whose lives, though no less remarkable, are unrecorded despite contributing richly to the life of both islands. Suggestions for how they may be remembered here are welcome.
This is the start of an evolving project. It is doubtful whether it could ever be considered complete. I hope that you will find it useful and that you will be happy to contribute your knowledge or comments towards the improving the site.
Jack
on pavement grey 