Continuing my new series on historic signs, markers, plaques etc. I’ve noticed that I do take photos of these things quite a lot! Doing a search of Apple photos on my phone brings up a number of them…
Have you ever been to Postman Park in London? If not, the location is shared on today's map and it's well worth visiting.
Plus there is an interesting connection with someewhere I've been to before quite a few times; but upon searching my older posts, haven't written about here, another one for a future outing.
The plaque is an interesting one; notice what it is made out of? It's made out of ceramic tiles. I have transcribed what the plaque says below (apologies for the upper case, I'm not shouting):
G.F. WATTS'S MEMORIAL TO HEROIC SELF SACRIFICE
UNVEILED IN 1900, THE MEMORIAL TO HEROIC SELF-SACRIFICE WAS CONCEIVED AND UNDERTAKEN BY THE VICTORIAN ARTIST GEORGE FREDERIC WATTS OM RA (1817-1904).
IT CONTAINS PLAQUES TO THOSE WHO HAVE HEROICALLY LOST THEIR LIVES TRYING TO SAVE ANOTHER. WATTS BELIEVED THAT THESE 'EVERYDAY" HEROES PROVIDED MODELS OF EXEMPLARY BEHAVIOUR AND CHARACTER
'THE MATERIAL PROSPERITY OF A NATION IS NOT AN ABIDING POSSESSION; THE DEEDS OF ITS PEOPLE ARE' G.F. WATTS
"GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS THAT HE LAY DOWN HIS
LIES FOR HIS FRIENDS, JOHN 15:13
WATTS GALLERY, COMPTON, SURREY.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WATTS MEMORIAL
Postman's memorial park contains 54 ceramic tablets that commemorate 62 individuals, men women and children who all died whilst saving someone else and spans many decades from it's first in 1863 and the most recent in 2007.
I can recall at the time of visiting Postman's Park, George Watt was a name that rang a bell in my mind and a quick Google on my phone jogged my memory. George and Mary Watts founded a gallery in Compton, Surrey back in 1904 and I believe specialised in ceramics from the early days.
Next to the Gallery is the stunning memorial chapel that is decorated with ceramic tiles inside and out, all were hand made by George and Mary Watts.
