St George’s Circus is a road junction in South London, specifically Southwark. The junction has traditionally been a roundabout, although currently it is now a circular traffic-light controlled junction. At its centre is the obelisk.

It’s been claimed the obelisk was erected in Lord Mayor Brass Crosby’s honour during the year of his mayoralty.

Inscription on the Obelisk

North: ERECTED IN XI YEAR OF THE REIGN OF KING GEORGE THE THIRD MDCCLXXI

(Erected in the 11th year of the reign of King George the Third, 1771)

East: ONE MILE FROM PALACE YARD, WESTMINSTER HALL

(East: One mile from Palace Yard, Westminster Hall.)

South: ONE MILE, CCCL FEET FROM FLEET STREET

(South: One mile, 350 feet from Fleet Street.)

West: ONE MILE, XXXX FEET FROM LONDON BRIDGE

(West: One mile, 40 feet from London Bridge.)

Timeline

1771 – St George’s Circus built and obelisk erected

1897 – Moved to Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park

1950 – 2nd March, Obelisk added a Grade II* Listed status by English Heritage (listing number 1385642)

1998 – Obelisk added back to St George’s Circus

Who was Brass Crosby?

Brass Crosby was the MP for Honiton from 1768 until September 1774. He was a solicitor when he first came to Lonond, later becoming an attorney. From 1758 he was a councillor in various wards around the City of London, and on 29th September 1770 he was elected lord mayor of London.

Crosby famously stood up for the rights and liberties of the citizens of London by refusing to endorse or allow “press warrants” that would otherwise see men be forcibly taken and made to serve in the navy.

This was significant at the time because it represented a local government authority directly opposing a practice sanctioned by the national government, highlighting the tension between local and national powers and the importance of civil liberties.

In the midst of Crosby’s mayoralty, he also became involved in a significant issue regarding the freedom of the press. He defended the right to publish reports on parliamentary debates, challenging the government’s attempts to suppress this information. This stand led to his imprisonment, sparking public outrage and symbolizing the fight for press freedom. His actions eventually contributed to the establishment of the right to publish parliamentary debates, a crucial step towards transparent governance.

In 1771, despite Crosby’s severe gout, the House of Commons decided to imprison him in the Tower of London, a decision met with great public outrage and protests. When the parliamentary session ended, Crosby and Oliver were released and celebrated with a grand procession and citywide celebrations. The outcome of this event was significant, as it marked the last time the government attempted to suppress the publication of parliamentary debates.

In 1782 he was elected president of Bethlehem Hospital, and in 1785 governor of the Irish Society. He died at age 68 after a short illness on 14th February 1793, at his house in Chatham Place, Blackfriars Bridge. He was buried on the 21st February 1793 in Chelsfield Church, near Orpington, Kent, where a monument was erected to his memory.

Footnotes:

“Brass Crosby” in the Dictionary of National Biography by George Fisher Russell Barker