Pages on the Chatterton Monument from Chilcott's Handbook to St Mary Redcliff Church 1848

28 ST. MARY REDCLIFFE CHURCH,
The Chatterton memorial, lately erected by subscription,
is placed in the enclosed spot at the north-west
angle of the churchyard, between the tower and the
north porch, which is now being thrown open, by the
removal of the houses that formerly completely hid that
portion of the church from public view, agreeably to an
act of parliament recently obtained, for forming a new
street into Thomas Street. The monument is pentagonal
on the plan, raised upon· three graduated steps: from the
base it is divided vertically into three compartments, the
lowest is intended to contain the inscriptions, with buttresses
at the angles, which rise up to the head of the
next division, the space between them being occupied
by a deep niche. In the centre niche is an open scroll,
inscribed, " The Poems of Rowlie." The canopies of
these niches and the buttress tops are richly carved with
flowers and grotesque animals.
The third compartment
is formed of five small pillars, with ogee arched heads
and carved spandrels, and a central pillar for the support
of the statue. These are surmounted by a deep
cornice, with heads and flowers at the angles, and a
pedestal cap.
The fi gur
e of Chatterton crowns the
monument : he is represented in the dress of Colston's
school, where he was educated. From his left hand falls
a long scroll, inscribed "Ella, a tragedie."
The character of the monument assimilates to the desi
gn
of workmanship of the buttresses of the north porch.
The total height is 31 feet, and its cost was about £100.
The city is chiefly indebted to the exertions of Mr.
Christopher George and Mr. Charles Bowles Fripp, for
the erection of this monument to one of the most celebrated
of her sons, and also to the Rev. Martin R. Whish,

ST. MARY REDCLIFFE CHURCH.
for the grant of the site.
The design was furnished by
Mr. S. C. Fripp, Architect, and the work executed by
Messrs. Higgs and Godwin.
TIie [intended] Jn,criptiona on the Monume11t, on thejir,t lilu,­
TO THE MEMORY
Reader! jadge not.
OP
THOMAS CHATTERTON.
If tboa art a Christiaa, believe that be shall be jadged by •
superior Power-to that Power alone i& he now answerable.
On the lilufacing Redcliffe Street.
Know all; know iofidela, anapt to know,
'Tia Immortality yoar oatare oolveo;
'Tio immortality deciphers man
And open• all the mysteries of bis make,
Withoat It bait hi• io11incll are a riddle:
Witboat it all hi• vlrtaea are a dream :
Hi1 very crime, atte1t bis dignity;
His aatele11 appetite of gold and fame
Declares him bora for blessings iafinlte.-Da. You No.
On the ride tou,ard, the Porch Steps.
A poor and frlendleu boy was he, to whom
Io railed thi• mooameot, wlthoat a tomb.
There aeek hi• dost, there o'er bis geains sigh,
Where famished oatcasta aorecorded lie :
Here let hi, name, for here hi1 cenia1 ro,e
To might of ancient day,, in peace repoae I
Here, wondroao boy I to more than want coosiga•d.
To cold neglect, worse famine of the mind:
All aocoogeoial the bright world within
To that withoat of darkoeu and of sin,
He lived a mystery-died, Here, reader, paa,e:
Let God be jadge, and mercy plead the caoae.
On the fourth lilu.
A po1thamoaa child.
Born lo thl• pariah, 20th November, 1702.
Died lo London, 24th Augaot, 1770, .iEt. 18.
On the fifth ride.
Admitted into Colaton'• School, 3rd Aagaot, 1760.
lJuntlmu bmtollensis, 1768.
tolDUc muuxxxxxxtx 1769.
On the Baae, under the fir Ill lnacription.
Erected by onbacrlption, A. D, 1840.