E J Clack to Move Centre Stage at Green Park Station

This water-fountain and statue that stood in The Green Park for over 50 years has been permanently removed from it's original location.

This is the site now, tarmac is being removed , the pinth, fountain and statue are long gone.

But they will be back with a vengeance in 2012, when the work at Green Park Station is complete.

Green Park Station and the surrounding area are currently undergoing major works, in time for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Part of the scheme includes a brand new entrance to the Tube station direct from the park. When it is complete, this fountain will be re-sited as the centrepiece of this new entrance.

 

The statue is "Diana of the Treetops" by Estcourt J. Clack originally unveiled in 1954. In the base is a water fountain and even a water fountain for dogs.

Estcourt J. Clack, known as Jim, was a full-time woodwork teacher at Blundell's School in Halberton, Devon. He won a competition to produce this fountain. It is one of the many fountains commissioned by the Constance Fund in London.

The Constance Fund was set up artist Sigismund C.H.Goetze's widow, Constance,  in his memory. Its aim was “to encourage and promote the art of sculpture in London Parks.”.

The only other EJ Clack I know of in London, is the Charles Dickens Plaque on Marylebone Road. I am pleased that this, his previously lesser seen work, will now be in such a prominent position. Who knows, there may even be postcards of it by this time next year and "Jim Clack" might soon be a household name!

More on the history of this fountain from the National Archives here

Do Dogs, Do Do-ing, Do Symbols?

Groucho Marx once said "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.".

I hope that, from a dog's perspective, this Camden paving slab is legible.

The Odyssey of Bond Street

Three sculptural reliefs on the facade of  a new gallery at 33 New Bond Street, London.

 

They are the work of Alexander (Sandy) Stoddart who has produced work for the Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace and he is the sculptor of “The Pimlico Priapus”, in Vincent Square.

The Richard Green Gallery will be occupying the new building soon. The architects, Adam Architecture say "These pieces illustrate scenes from the Odyssey, chosen as an allegory for the development of Modern art from 1900 to the present day."

More on the artist here.

A Drinking Fountain for Dogs

This drinking fountain was designed for dogs but is appreciated by pigeons too. It stands near the Palace Gate in Kensington Gardens and is a memorial to Esme Percy.

 

Esmé Saville Percy (1887–1957),  was an English actor, manager and producer who studied under  Sarah Bernhardt and worked with George Bernard Shaw though he is now all but forgotten. The sculpture of the dog in bronze is by Silvia Gilley and the memorial was erected in 1961.

A Woodwork Teacher Who Sculpted Diana for The Green Park

This enormous Portland stone panel commemorates one of Charles Dickens' many London homes. It stands on the Marylebone Road. There is some more detail about it at the excellent Ornamental Passions site here.

Less well known, by the same little known sculptor, is this bronze.

It is Diana of the Treetops by Estcourt J. Clack. Unveiled in 1954, it stands in The Green Park, London.

Estcourt J. Clack was a full-time woodwork teacher at Blundell's School in Halberton, Devon. He won a competition to produce this fountain. It is one of the many fountains commissioned by the Constance Fund. More on this from the National Archives here.

Update May 10th 2011. I walked past the site of "Diana in the Trees" and the fountain and statute have gone. No doubt they have removed for conservation or repair. Does anyone know when they are due to return? 

Pet Cemetery in Hyde Park

The little pet cemetery at Victoria Gate in Hyde Park, London, didn’t so much officially open in 1880 but rather it evolved from then, following one particular burial. 

Prince George, the Duke of Cambridge, was at the time not only Commander in Chief of the British Army  but also the Ranger of Hyde Park.

Prince George was a colourful Royal who had an invalid marriage with an actress, Louisa Fairbrother. When his wife (Mrs Fitzgeorge, as she was now known) lost her favourite dog,  George used his position and instructed  the gate-keeper a Mr.Windbridge, to give the dog a decent burial in the garden of his lodge. (The dog was also called Prince!) The idea caught on in society circles and within 25 years, Mr.Windbridge's  garden had been almost completely filled with the graves of over 300 various upper class pets, dogs, cats, birds, and even a monkey.

A lack of space and changing tastes during  the First World War made the cemetery less fashionable. Only a tiny handful of burials have taken place there since 1915 the last being a regimental mascot in 1967.

The cemetery can only properly be viewed by appointment now but it is still possible to glimpse the little headstones and their inscriptions through the railings.

The Real Pongo Lived Here Too!

2011 is the 40th anniversary of the release of  Disney's animated 101 Dalmatians.

Dodie Smith, author of the original book, One Hundred and One Dalmatians lived here at Number 19, Dorset Square London. This is the private plaque provided by St Marylebone Society, a local history and conservation organisation.

Her flat at number 19 was decorated in fashionable monochrome with white carpets and black curtains, she joked ‘All I need now is a Dalmatian.’ . Her husband was wondering what to buy her as a birthday present and was inspired by this remark to purchase "Pongo" for her 38th birthday.

Later a friend, admiring Pongo's fine fur, remarked that ‘He would make a nice fur coat,’ and Dodie had her inspiration.

As we celebrate the film, let's not forget the charms of the original book. The book really concentrates on  dog behaviour and psychology and is very wittily written to appeal to parents as much as to children and of course in the book, Pongo is never married to Perdita, his constant companion is Missis! A quick read and an amusing one.