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An original 1833 print of "Monument in St Saviour's Church, Southwark, London"
Good dark image which would look great framed. This print is in good condition and is on a sheet 8.25 x 5.25 inches with a blank back. This print was published in an 1833 edition of "The Gentleman's Magazine".
Southwark or The Borough is an area of London in the London Borough of Southwark, situated 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of Charing Cross. From 1550 to 1899 it formed part of the City of London as the Ward of Bridge Without.
Southwark Cathedral - previously St. Saviour's, Southwark on Borough High Street, Southwark, SE1 London. Placed as it is at one of the busiest junctions in London and given that all that can be seen from the road is the upper portion and spire, perhaps it is not so surprising that the ancient St. Saviour's, Southwark, is so often missed. But it is a pity because as well as possessing a marvellous atmosphere of serenity and calm, the Cathedral building houses the most interesting collection of tombs and epitaphs outside of Westminster Abbey.
Southwark Cathedral is by no means a dusky repository for the dead, though. Throughout it's long history it has played a vital role in the life of London's South Bank and it has a surprisingly rich heritage as a result.
Unlikely as it might seem today, Southwark Cathedral stood at the heart of one of the liveliest and most notorious districts of the city. When the Roman Army made camp on the Bankside innumerable brothels opened to cater for the needs of its soldiers. Some centuries later, when the area came under the control of the church, the whore houses were still flourishing. Business continued as normal and the profits became a substantial source of revenue for the Bishops of Winchester, whose lands included this part of London.
Although Henry VIII finally shut down the Bishop's brothels, others took their place and Southwark's reputation as a pleasure garden went on undiminished. Of course, sexual incontinence was not the only form of entertainment to be found on the Bankside. Theatres, bear-baiting rings and cockpits were amongst the amusements and hundreds of taverns also plied a fine trade.
A sort of Soho and West End combined, Southwark positively seethed with activity. This was the Southwark to which Shakespeare came with the Globe Theatre and he probably lived close by, in the shadow of the cathedral.
St. Saviour's was undoubtedly familiar to Shakespeare and he must have worshiped there many times. This much is borne out by the fact that the playwright's brother, Edmund, was buried in the church after his premature death in 1607. Since he was an actor, Edmund's passing would not normally have attracted any attention. Yet someone evidently paid to have him sent off like a gentleman.
The register states:'Edmond Shakespeare, player, buried in ye church, with a forenone knell of the great bell XXs.'Perhaps because of these strong cultural links, Americans have chosen to commemorate two other famous citizens in Southwark Cathedral. A plaque to Oscar Hammerstein, the playwright and lyricist can be found in the Harvard Chapel and another, to the actor Sam Wanamaker (1919-1993) whose extraordinary vision and tenacity led to the reconstruction of the Globe Theatre on the Bankside, can be found beside the memorial to Shakespeare.
The plate shows the recently erected monument from the design of Robert Wallace architect and is in tribute to John Rawlinson Harris esq of Winchester House, Southwark Bridge Road....
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