The Chelsea Society was represented by its Vice-chairman at the unveiling of a commemorative plaque for those famous Chelsea sculptors on 26th March 2026.
The plaque is a gift from the Royal Mint, and the sculptor was the Royal Mint lead-designer Lee R. Jones. It is located, by kind permission of the Moravian congregation, in the building at Moravian Close which was their studio. Their home is on the left of the picture below.
Mary is best known as the designer and sculptor of the first coin to bear the image of Queen Elizabeth II. Ernest is best known for the Cenotaph in Glasgow.
The plaque was unveiled by the great-nieces of Mary Gillick (Katherine Smith and Julia Stacey), seen here with a photograph of Mary aged about 18.
The plaque and the unveiling were arranged by Ian Foster.
Also present was Philip Attwood (former Keeper of Coins and Medals, at the British Museum).
Also present was Bella Hobson, the grand-daughter of Walter Godfrey, the architect responsible for the rebuilding of Chelsea Old Church and The Temple Church. He was also the first director and the inspiration behind the foundation of the National Buildings Record, the basis of today’s Historic England Archive, and edited or contributed to numerous volumes of the Survey of London.
