Wall Tablet - Anthony North Somerscales & infant
Description
Neo-Classical wall tablet for merchant and church warden Anthony North Somerscales (1782-1824) and his unnamed infant (1824). A monaxial decorated slate tablet, supported on white marble corbel decorated with an acanthus leaf. A white marble sarcophagus is topped by flower urn with trailing palm leaves. The sarcophagus rests on two corbels, below which is a heraldic achievement. The incised inscription is black, in Roman capitals and lower case.
Heraldic achievement: Somerscales impaling Watson. For Somerscales: 3 scallops, on a chief three crescents (tinctures to be determined, as these are not the usual Somerscales arms); for Watson: argent, a chevron engrailed azure, between 3 martlets sable, as many crescents or (on silver/white, a blue chevron with scalloped indented edges, above which 3 black martlets, and below 3 gold/yellow crescents). Crest: the sun in his splendour.
Also in South Choir Aisle, there is an associated floor slab for Anthony North Somerscales which includes his widow (who had remarried) and his brother.
Inscription and donor(s)
Sacred to the Memory of/ANTHONY NORTH SOMERSCALES,/of this Place Merchant,/who departed this Life on the 22:nd of August 1824,/in the 42:nd Year of his Age./This truly amiable and most exemplary Man/was suddenly cut off, in the flower of his age and usefulness,/He surviv'd the birth of his only Child eleven days, / who was interred with him in the same Tomb;/The bereaved Wife and Mother erects/this Monument/as a Testimony of her Affection.
Subjects
Forename(s) | Family name | Dates |
---|---|---|
Anthony North | Somerscales | 1824 |
Baby, unnamed | Somerscales | 1824 |
Physical attributes & manufacture
Location
Condition
- Generally quite dirty
- Possibly some coatings have been used & discoloured
- Backing panel (possibly limestone) is decaying at edges & showing rust staining (top, right hand side)
- Some detail carved elements have been lost (fronds on top decoration), etc.
- Bottom corbel support appears cracked on left hand face
Conservation Suggestions:
- Clean (& investigate removing discoloured coatings)
- Possible take down & re-fix (requires detailed examination of backing slab & investigation of rusting fixings)
- Ensure all marble elements are securely attached to slate back panel
- Possible re-carve missing elements
References
Francis J A Skeet, History of the families of Skeet, Somerscales, Widdrington, Wilby, Murray, Blake, Grimshaw, and others (London, 1906); NADFAS (1986); Andy Gomersall, Condition Report (2020)