Dawkins-Walker Bench - London, England, UK
Posted by: Metro2
N 51° 31.105 W 000° 06.063
30U E 701123 N 5711461
This bench is located in City Garden Park in West Smithfield in London.
Waymark Code: WMDEBY
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 01/02/2012
Views: 7
This bench has a geometric design. A plaque at the site reads:
"Sculpted stone bench unveiled on 6 December 2006
by
The Rt. Hon. the Lord Mayor John Boothman Stuttard
Bench designed by Sam Dawkins and Donna Walker
and made by the apprentices and masons of CWO Ltd
Sponsored by City of London Corporation, CWO Ltd and
Albion Stone Plc"
The bench has a few inscriptions on it as well.
This website (
visit link) gives a brief discussion of the bench and area:
"The site was originally part of the 'Smoothfield' outside the City walls where jousts, executions and markets were held in the C14th and C15th. Although the gallows were moved to Tyburn in the C15th Smithfield continued to be used for executing religious martyrs and more than 200 Protestants were burnt at the stake during Queen Mary's reign. A livestock market was held here from 1638 until it transferred to Caledonian Market in Islington in 1855 and St Bartholomew's Fair was an annual event until 1855, after which the site was closed as a public meeting place. Waste ground for a time, the site was finally laid out as public gardens by the Corporation of London and opened to the public in 1872. A drinking fountain with a bronze figure representing 'Peace' was erected in 1873. Geometric sculptural seating was installed in the garden in C21st, with inscriptions relating to the history of the area."