Pepys, Harley, Etty and Stanfield Plaque

Who lived at 14 Buckingham Street? A plaque here at Pepys, Harley, Etty and Stanfield Plaque answers that question. It tells us of quite a mix of residents! Samuel Pepys, the famous diarist, and Robert Harley, a statesman, once graced a house on this very spot. The Pepys, Harley, Etty and Stanfield Plaque also commemorates later residents: the painters William Etty and Clarkson Stanfield. The plaque itself is a window into London’s layered past. Imagine Pepys, in the late 17th century, perhaps penning his secret diaries just steps from where we stand now. Years later, Harley, Earl of Oxford, navigated the political landscape of his time from this same location. The Pepys, Harley, Etty and Stanfield Plaque inscription notes the house they inhabited is no longer here. Yet, the creative spirit lived on. William Etty, known for his nude figures in historical paintings, and Clarkson Stanfield, celebrated for his maritime scenes, resided in the building that succeeded Pepys and Harley’s home. Etty, in particular, was a controversial figure. His paintings, while technically brilliant and admired by many, drew criticism for their focus on the nude form. Etty himself was a devoted student, continuing his studies even after becoming a Royal Academician, a high honor indeed. He was deeply involved in preserving the York city walls and instrumental in founding the York School of Design. So, as you look at the Pepys, Harley, Etty and Stanfield Plaque, consider the vastly different lives lived here. From the intimate reflections of a diarist to the bold brushstrokes of a painter, this unassuming corner of London holds centuries of stories.