Richard 'Dick' Whittington — the man who was four-times Lord Mayor of London (thrice in the pantomime version), and bestowed to the city a massive toilet — is enshrined in everything from pantos to pubs.
He is also immortalised in the Whittington Stone, a small monument erected at the foot of Highgate Hill in Archway in 1821, at the spot where a down-and-out Dick supposedly heard the bells call out "Turn again, Whittington, thrice Lord Mayor of London" — calling him back to the medieval City. That quote is emblazoned on the milestone-like monument, and in 1964, was embellished with sculptor Jonathan Kenworthy's limestone cat, referencing Whittington's (likely fabricated) feline accomplice.
Over the decades, the monument has fallen foul of soot, moss and general erosion, but now — thanks to a project funded by Islington Council and Heritage of London Trust with support from Englefield Charitable Trust — it's been restored to former glory. Work by SSH Conservation has seen stone repairs, recutting and repainting of the lettering, plus refurbishment and repainting of the railings surrounding the monument. A new panel has been installed nearby, giving more context to the Whittington Stone and the story behind it.
Children from local schools, including St John's Upper Holloway C of E School and Yerbury Primary School, have been involved with the project too, some even helping with the repainting. Says 11-year-old Betty Rose: "I think it's important for young people to know the story of Dick Whittington because it's a really inspiring story for all of us and basically it's to never give up and you should always try!"
The annual Whittington Walk — which retraces Whittington's route back from Archway to the City — takes place this year on Sunday 19 April, with many of London's mayors gathering at the Whittington Stone at 10.15am. Sadiq Khan himself is not expected to be in attendance, but he is, only (so far at least) only thrice Mayor of London.
