Memorials

Wall Tablet - John Alderson, MD

Common name(s): Dr Alderson Memorial
Catalogue ID: 89
NADFAS ID: 1096

Description

Rectangular wall tablet, stele form with triangular shallow pitched head with acroteria. In the centre of the tablet above the inscription is a bas relief profile portrait within a roundel. Two draped female figure supporters: Left side figure: Hygieia, goddess of Health, holding serpent; right side figure mourning. Inscription in Roman Caps. in various sizes. Sculpted by William Behnes of London.

Inscription and donor(s)

IN MEMORY OF/JOHN ALDERSON, M.D./HE WAS BORN/AT LOWESTOFT, IN THE COUNTY OF SUFFOLK/ON THE 4TH DAY OF JUNE A.D. 1757./AND DIED AT THIS PLACE/ON THE 16TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER A.D. 1820/IN THE 73RD YEAR OF HIS AGE./AS A PHYSICIAN/HE UNITED TO LONG AND EXTENSIVE/EXPERIENCE/GREAT NATURAL SAGACITY AND ACUTENESS/AN UNABATED ZEAL AFTER KNOWLEDGE/AND A KINDNESS AND WARMTH OF FEELING/WHICH MADE HIM AT ONCE/THE SKILFUL ADVISER/AND AFFECTIONATE FRIEND/OF ALL WHO KNEW HIM/WHETHER RICH OR POOR/AS A PHILANTHROPIST/HE WAS EMINENTLY DISTINGUISHED/BY HIS LOVE OF SCIENCE AND THE ARTS./AND THE UNWEARIED INTEREST/WHICH HE TOOK/IN ALL THAT COULD ADORN OR IMPROVE/THE CONDITION OF THOSE AROUND HIM/OR INCREASE THE HAPPINESS/OF MANKIND/TO THIS END HE DEVOTED/THE RICH STORES OF HIS VARIED/INFORMATION/BY ENCOURAGING TO THE UTMOST/OF HIS POWER/THE NUMEROUS INSTITUTIONS IN THIS TOWN/FOR THE PROMOTION OF SOUND LEARNING/AND USEFUL KNOWLEDGE/HE CLOSED A CAREER/OF LABOUR AND TEMPERANCE/CHEERED BY THE PLEASING RECOLLECTION/OF A WELL SPENT LIFE/AND AMIDST THE UNIVERSAL REGRET/OF HIS FELLOW CITIZENS./

ERECTED BY HIS SURVIVING CHILDREN.

HONORABLE AGE IS NOT THAT WHICH STANDETH ONLY IN/LENGTH OF TIME, NOR THAT IS MEASURED BY NUMBER/OF YEARS/BUT WISDOM IS THE GREY HAIR UNTO MAN, AND AN/UNSPOTTED LIFE IS OLD AGE./

WISDOM OF SOLOMON.

Donor
His children

Subjects

Forename(s) Family name Dates
John Alderson 1820

Physical attributes & manufacture

Location of manufacture
London
Date of manufacture
1820-1821
Executer
William Behnes
Dimension Value Notes
Height 2050mm
Width 1120mm
Depth 150mm

Location

Transept N. wall E.

Condition

2020
  1. “Made safe” following previous inspection
  2. Right hand side carved figure, who had become detached, has been retained for re-fixing
  3. Some discolouration and general dirt

Conservation Suggestions:

  1. Carefully take down and re-build (provisionally, retain marble corbels and plinth/console in place).
  2. Conservation dry clean all elements.
  3. Re-fix, including the removed r.h. statue.

References

NADFAS (1986); Andy Gomersall, Condition Report (2020).

Images

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