Wall Tablet - John Alderson, MD
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.
Subjects
Forename(s) | Family name | Dates |
---|---|---|
John | Alderson | 1820 |
Physical attributes & manufacture
Location
Condition
- “Made safe” following previous inspection
- Right hand side carved figure, who had become detached, has been retained for re-fixing
- Some discolouration and general dirt
Conservation Suggestions:
- Carefully take down and re-build (provisionally, retain marble corbels and plinth/console in place).
- Conservation dry clean all elements.
- Re-fix, including the removed r.h. statue.
References
NADFAS (1986); Andy Gomersall, Condition Report (2020).