Memorials to T. E. Lawrence

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Dorset

Clouds Hill, Moreton, Dorset

Lawrence's cottage, together with its furnishings, was presented in 1939 to the National Trust by A. W. Lawrence as a memorial to his brother. The cottage is not open every day, so it is worth checking current opening times with the National Trust before planning a visit.

Information online

• Clouds Hill visitor information and opening times, National Trust website (opens in a new window)

• Pictures of Clouds Hill taken shortly after Lawrence's death in 1935

• 'T.E. Lawrence at Clouds Hill', a detailed account of Lawrence's association with the cottage drawn from his correspondence

• List of books in Lawrence's library at Clouds Hill in 1935, from T.E. Lawrence by his Friends (London, Jonathan Cape, 1937) [In progress: only authors beginning with 'A' currently online]

Publications

• A National Trust guide booklet is for sale at the cottage

• A.W. Lawrence, ed., T.E. Lawrence by his Friends (London, Jonathan Cape, 1937) contains 'Books at Clouds Hill' pp.476-510, 'Gramophone Records at Clouds Hill' pp.523-9, and other references

• Lawrence's neighbour Pat Knowles, a former National Trust guardian of Clouds Hill, wrote a memoir, published as Clouds Hill - Dorset, "An handful with quietness" (Weymouth, E.V.G. Hunt, n.d.)

• There is further information in Bob Hunt, The life and times of Joyce E. Knowles (Weymouth, E.V.G. Hunt, 1994).

• There are ground-floor and first-floor plans of the cottage in Wilson (plates following p.868)

Moreton cemetery

Lawrence's grave is in the new cemetery of Moreton church. The gravestones - perhaps more overtly religious in tone than Lawrence would have liked - were chosen by his mother and his elder brother Bob. The stone at the foot of the grave, partly covered with flowers in this photo, carries the motto of Oxford University: 'Dominus illuminatio Mea' (The Lord is my light) Psalms xxvii.I. Unidentified photographer

St. Martin's Church, Wareham, Dorset

This very small Saxon church contains a recumbent effigy of Lawrence in Arab dress, sculpted posthumously as a memorial by his friend Eric Kennington.
Unidentified photographer

Site of Lawrence's fatal accident, between Clouds Hill and near Bovington Camp, Dorset

A tree has been planted to mark the site of Lawrence's fatal motor-cycle accident. Plaques marking the event have repeatedly been stolen. There is a stone memorial nearby

London

The Royal Society of Asian Affairs

The Lawrence of Arabia Memorial Medal is presented from time to time by the Royal Society of Asian Affairs. List of recipients

Saint Paul's Cathedral

There is a cast of Eric Kennington's 1926 bronze bust of Lawrence in the crypt of Saint Paul's Cathedral. It was unveiled by Lord Halifax, Chancellor of the University of Oxford, at a  service on 29 January 1936. The text of Lord Halifax's speech was published by Oxford University Press. Unidentified photographer

14 Barton Street

A blue wall plaque marks No. 14 Barton Street, Westminster. When in London, Lawrence used to occupy an attic room in this house, which was at that time used as an architect's office. He wrote much of Seven Pillars of Wisdom there during 1919-20 and completed his Odyssey translation there in 1931. The attic has since been substantially altered and the house, now part of Westminster School, is not open to the public. Photographer of house unidentified. Photo. of plaque by courtesy of Michael Dornieden.

Union Jack Club

A plaque records that Lawrence used the Union Jack Club (a club for non-commissioned ranks serving in the British armed forces) during his service years. The Union Jack Club has moved since Lawrence's time and is not open to the public.

Oxford

Oxford High School

A memorial wall plaque by Eric Kennington was unveiled by Winston Churchill at the City of Oxford High School for Boys on 3 October 1936. In 1966, when the school was merged with Southfield School to form the Oxford School, the plaque was moved to the new school premises in Glanville Road, Cowley. For information about the unveiling ceremony see Proceedings at the unveiling of the memorial to Lawrence of Arabia (Oxford, J.Thornton, 1937).

Jesus College

There is a plaque in Lawrence's memory in the college entrance, a cast of Eric Kennington's 1926 bronze bust of Lawrence at the entrance to the chapel and, in the Hall, a copy by Mrs Alix Jennings of Augustus John's three-quarter length oil portrait of Lawrence in Arab dress (after the original in the Tate Gallery, London).

Bridlington

At Bridlington, where Lawrence worked during the last months of his RAF service, there is a memorial sundial. The plaque reads: 'This sundial has been erected to the memory of Lawrence of Arabia who as Aircraftsman [sic] Shaw served in the Royal Air Force in Bridlington between 1929-1935.'

Tremadoc, Wales

Lawrence's birthplace. The two photographs below are some years old. Photographer unknown.

T.E. Lawrence Studies - www.telawrence.info - is edited by Jeremy Wilson assisted by the Society for T.E. Lawrence Studies. The web hosting is sponsored by Castle Hill Press.