So who were the Budds then?

[Brainaddict]

And what was so special about them that they got a big monument in the middle of Brixton?

I've been meaning to ask this for ages - I'm sure the local historians on here will know

[boohoo]

Originally Posted by Brainaddict

And what was so special about them that they got a big monument in the middle of Brixton?

I've been meaning to ask this for ages - I'm sure the local historians on here will know

ohh... I know exactly what you mean - their nice mausoleum outside the church. Was wandering a similar thought the other day when I went past it. It's built by a bloke for his father but I think he is also buried there too, along with various wifes/mothers family members ...

Course it doesn't help that this is the only grave left in a graveyard on a traffic island. I imagine, theirs was the grandest but was surrounded by other fairly substantial monuments and gravestones...

The name doesn't seem to be commemorated anywhere else in Brixton...

[Brainaddict]

BUDD MEMORIAL

The first thing you see in the garden is a very large and curious stone monument. Erected by Henry Budd in 1825 it is the burial place of his father Richard Budd and others of the family. It was described by a writer of that time as “without doubt the finest sepulchral monument in the open air in the metropolis, and perhaps not equalled by any one in the kingdom.” You can certainly say that the design of this memorial in the heart of Brixton is unique.

From the brixton society website. But it still doesn't explain anything about the budds

[Brainaddict]

http://www.urban75.org/brixton/photos/120.html

[boohoo]

Had a look on another site... not much there. They just had lots of money to throw around and did nothing of importance except leave a grand monument in the middle of Brixton IMO.

[Brainaddict]

I found a cool page for local history geeks:
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/rep...x?compid=49772
The description of the monument errs on the side of...detailed:

It is of Greek derivation in its parts, with some Egyptian features, and shows the influence of Soane. Square in plan, it is built apparently of Portland stone, in three main stages, on a stepped granite base. The four faces are identical except for a low sunk doorway with a projecting pedimented lintel, which cuts into the base on the west side. The lowest step has vermiculated rustication on its face. The main stage consists of four broad pedimented stele projecting from the central block, with classical urns set in the reentrant angles thus formed. The stele are ornamented with paterae and egg and dart moulding, and contain white marble slabs carrying inscriptions to members of the Budd family. The pediments are surmounted by acroteria at the corners. The second stage has a cornice of considerable projection with scrolled acroteria, the square panels below containing openings with fretted iron grilles and carvings of the serpent with its tail in its mouth, symbol of eternity, and the winged globe, the Egyptian hieroglyph for the Almighty Creator. Flanking these panels are low relief carvings of angels in side panels which are returned on to the adjoining face. The top stage is stepped back and has carvings of the Holy Dove in its four panels. The acanthus-leaved cornice supports segmental pediments topped by two blocking courses and a large anthemion finial.

[boohoo]

Those kind of architectual descriptions are rather painful. It would be interesting to put a bunch of artists in the room, read them the description and get them to draw it.... could be interesting.

[Brainaddict]

Originally Posted by boohoo

Those kind of architectual descriptions are rather painful. It would be interesting to put a bunch of artists in the room, read them the description and get them to draw it.... could be interesting.

Yes, I think you'd get quite different takes on it - next time I bump into some fine art undergrads I'll suggest it

[boohoo]

Originally Posted by Brainaddict

Yes, I think you'd get quite different takes on it - next time I bump into some fine art undergrads I'll suggest it

They might need an architectual dictionary too...

wonder if Crispy knows what half the details are?

[Brainaddict]

I tried googling the Egyptian hieroglyph for the Almighty Creator but couldn't find it

[boohoo]

This perhaps? Interesting associations....

Almighty creator sounds more like a reference to a single god... which the Egyptians generally didn't do except in the case of Akhenaten who worshipped the aten - the sun god...

[Brainaddict]

Isn't that zoroastrian?


And where's editor got to? He usually likes these history threads.

[boohoo]

Originally Posted by Brainaddict

Isn't that zoroastrian?


And where's editor got to? He usually likes these history threads.

What this?

Editors on another thread shaking his head about pubs....

[Brainaddict]

Yes, that's what I was thinking of. Which brings us to the zoroastrian fire temple in Yazd, where an 'eternal flame' burns - and has done for the last 800 years, allegedly, though I always reckon some novice let it go out in the night once and quickly relit it so they didn't get in trouble:


But your first one doesn't have the king figure on the wings so maybe its something different.

[boohoo]

Both sympbols are similar in form... it is possible that one borrowed from the other... Interestingly the winged globe symbol represents the three persons of the Egyptian trinity. Also it is associated with the Illuminati and the Rosicrucians....

Actually 1825 seem appropiate time for an egyptian influence in the architecture....

[supercity]

I remember that the monument used to stand inside the church yard before they remodelled the railings to create the garden and open it up. As far as I remember, the monument itself is adorned with fairly standard Victorian symbols - snake eating own tail for eternity, downturned torches for a life extinguished - but I'll have a look on the way to work tomorrow.

As for the Budds, I haven't a clue.

[Brainaddict]

Originally Posted by boohoo

This perhaps? Interesting associations....

Almighty creator sounds more like a reference to a single god... which the Egyptians generally didn't do except in the case of Akhenaten who worshipped the aten - the sun god...

You were right about this - it is the symbol on the memorial - I checked this morning as I walked past. It's a slightly simplified version of this, without the seahorses and other details, but definitely the same symbol. Somehow I was expecting it to be more hieroglyphic-looking.

[boohoo]

Originally Posted by Brainaddict

You were right about this - it is the symbol on the memorial - I checked this morning as I walked past. It's a slightly simplified version of this, without the seahorses and other details, but definitely the same symbol. Somehow I was expecting it to be more hieroglyphic-looking.

Those aren't seahorses.... They're snakes...



(I don't remember seahorses being a part of Egyptian symbolism!)

[Brainaddict]

They look like seahorses to me

[Crispy]

Originally Posted by boohoo

They might need an architectual dictionary too...

wonder if Crispy knows what half the details are?

I think I'm reading it right...

[boohoo]

(ok, maybe I can see some similarity of form.....)

[Mrs Magpie]

I know who the Budds were. Henry Budd (1774-1853) was a theologian and published tracts and he was also chaplain of Bridewell Hospital. His father Richard (1746-1821) was an eminent physician at Bart's and quite a big noise in the Royal College of Physicians.


edited to add dates (courtesy of the National Dictionary of Biography).

[Mrs Magpie]

btw, it's NOT Victorian. George IV was on the throne then. Victoria came to the throne in 1837

edited to add
I think the snakes are a reference to the rod of Aesculapius.

[lang rabbie]

I found somethingh very similar to Mrs M, but I wanted to check the 1821 date of death to the inscriptions on the memorial before posting:

Originally Posted by The Gentleman's Magazine 1821

Obituary; with Anecdotes of Remarkable Persons

Sept. 2nd At Battersea - rise, aged 75, Richard Budd MD Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. He was father to the Revd Henry Budd, Chaplain to Bridewell Hospital

But what was the Lambeth/Brixton connection?

Mr Budd senior appears to have resided in Battersea.

Wouldn't his son's sinecure would surely have given him a house closer to the City?

Bridewell Hospital
This place, which is in Bridge street, Blackfriars, and has lately been much improved, has already been mentioned amongst the prisons; for it is now a house of correction for dissolute persons, idle apprentices, and to maintain vagrants. From the following return, the use and character of the institution may be inferred:—

Vagrants committed by the lord mayor and sitting aldermen........... 764
Apprentices sent to solitary confinement ....................................... 44
Persons to be sent to different parishes ....................................... 362
Apprentices to be brought up to different trades ............................ 28

Source: New Picture of London, Printed for Samuel Leigh, 18, Strand; by W. Clowes, Northumberland Court. 1819

And where was Mr Budd senior interred until the memoral was finished some three years after his death?

[editor]

Originally Posted by Brainaddict

And where's editor got to? He usually likes these history threads.

I'm here but I'm currently compiling a photo report on a street named after the guy who introduced umbrellas to London.

But I can see this lot forming another article soon!