The Brave Benbow website [visit link] makes mantion of the
busts:
"Busts, head and shoulders, within decorated roundels,
of British admirals in uniforms of their period. Each roundel consists of a
plain outer moulding with inner circular wreath (laurel?) topped by single rose
motif. The base has an inscription panel with each admiral’s surname. The
innermost moulding is rimmed by a rope. All are in very high relief. Each head
is either more or less face on or at a three quarter turn to the left or right.
They run along the top of the north facade of the building facing the river.
From left to right (east to west): Anson, Drake, Cook (these first three on east
pavilion), Howard, Blake, Benbow, Sandwich (over door), Rodney, Duncan,
Collingwood, Howe, Nelson, St Vincent."
The building is Grade II listed and the entry at the English
Heritage website [visit
link] tells us:
"Former rackets courts, now laboratories. The western
block 1874-5 by Colonel Clarke RE, the central screen and eastern part identical
in design and added in 1882-3 by General Pudsey RE to form a symmetrical
composition. Converted to laboratories in c.1906. Stone and stuccoed facades,
roof hidden by high parapets. Seven-bay screen with higher two-bay ends. Tuscan
pilasters across screen break forward into pairs of Ionic columns set between
engaged columns with fluted capitals, all these in antis under projecting
parapets at ends. The parapets are elaborate, with raised centrepieces supported
on swags and urns set on high and elaborately carved plinths as cornerpieces;
all this decoration the work of C R Smith. Rusticated ground floor. At
first-floor height busts in high relief set in roundels depict from east to
west: Anson, Drake, Cook, Howard, Blake, Benbow, Sandwich, Rodney, Duncan,
Collingwood, Howe, Nelson and St Vincent. Nine-bay side elevations and three-bay
rear also denoted by pilasters, the ground floor rusticated under fluted frieze
and with empty first-floor roundels. Above these a deep frieze and an attic
storey also broken into bays by short pilaster strips."
The Royal Naval Museum website [visit
link] tells us about Anson:
"Born 23rd April 1697, second son of William Anson of
Shugborough at Clowich, Staffordshire. Anson entered the navy as a volunteer
(the contemporary term for an officer candidate), on board HMS Ruby on the 2nd
February 1712. On the 27th March, he moved to HMS Monmouth where he remained
until 27th June 1713, when the ship was paid off and he was
discharged.
By May 1716, he was serving in the Baltic, as Midshipman
on HMS Hampshire. He was appointed Second Lieutenant of HMS Montagu in March
1718, during which time he was involved in the action off Cape Passaro, Sicily
on 31st July 1718. He was transferred to HMS Barfleur on the 2nd October 1719,
and made Commander in June 1722, and appointed to HMS Weasel, which was employed
against Dutch smugglers.
In 1724, he was promoted to Captain, and appointed to
HMS Scarborough, and sent to South Carolina to protect the coast and commerce
against pirates and Spanish attacks. In July 1728, due to the death of its
Captain, Anson moved to HMS Garland. He returned home to England in July 1730.
In 1731 he took command of HMS Diamond, and later, in 1732, he was appointed to
HMS Squirrel and returned to the coast of Carolina until 1735, when his ship was
paid off. He was then unemployed for two and a half years, until December 1737,
when he was appointed to command HMS Centurion. He was sent first to the west
coast of Africa, and to then the West Indies, for the protection of English
trade against the French, and returned home in 1739.
On the 18th September 1740, on board Centurion, he set
sail for his arduous voyage in the Pacific. During the voyage over 700 men died
due to unhealthy conditions and diet. On 20 June 1743, Anson captured a superior
Spanish galleon due to its being heavily laden with merchandise and its crew,
being three times the number on Centurion, were untrained in armed combat. Anson
returned to Spithead on the 15th June 1744 with £500,000 of treasure. Anson was
promoted to Rear Admiral in acknowledgement of his good service and good
fortune. However, he returned his commission after a dispute with the Admiralty
who chose not to confirm Anson’s promotion of his First Lieutenant, Piercy
Brett, to Captain. Anson went on half-pay as a Captain. A few months later,
there was a change in ministry and the new board accepted Brett’s promotion to
Captain. On the 20th April 1745, Anson was re-promoted to Rear Admiral of the
White.
After Anson served on the Board of the Admiralty and as
an MP, he was appointed Vice Admiral, and took command of the Channel Fleet in
July 1746, leading his ships at the Battle of Cape Finisterre, on the 14th
October 1747. He was raised to the peerage on 15 July 1747. In February 1748 he
was appointed First Lord of the Admiralty until 1756, during which time he
concentrated his attentions on major administrative reforms. These included
introducing a new corps of marines under the jurisdiction of the Admiralty,
improving dockyard administration and shipbuilding, and most importantly,
drawing up a new code of Articles of War, which was passed by Parliament. It was
during this period that he appointed Admiral John Byng to be Commander in Chief
in the Mediterranean, and whose actions resulted in the loss of Minorca. This
was followed by the controversial court-martial of Byng for cowardice and
neglect and his subsequent execution. Lord Anson left office in November 1756.
He was re-appointed to First Lord of the Admiralty in June 1757, and in June
1761 he was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet but was able only once to hoist his
flag onboard ship.
On the 1st April 1758, he was married to Lady Elizabeth
Yorke, daughter of the Lord Chancellor. They had no children, and she died in
1760. Anson died suddenly two years later on the 6th June 1762 at his country
seat of Moor Park in Hertfordshire, and was buried in the family vault in
Colwich. His title died with him, but his property, including the family estate
of Shugborough, was left to his sister and her son, also called George, who
changed his name to Anson on inheriting the estate on his mother’s death. His
descendants were later raised to the peerage and Lord Anson’s great-great nephew
was created Earl of Lichfield in 1831, a title still in existence
today."