24th
February 1972
PONTEFRACT'S NELSON TABLET
While
London has its Nelson's column, Pontefract has its Nelson’s model -
or, as it is sometimes called, Nelson’s tablet - and few who have ever
visited the old Town Hall can be unaware of the fact. The tablet is 14ft
square and is an arresting piece of plasterwork depicting the death of
the great hero as he is borne on the arms of two of his shipmates,
surrounded by sorrowful faces.
Pontefract
can indeed be proud of this possession, for it is the original plaster
cast made for the sculpture forming one of the four base panels at the
base of the famous London column, the work of I.E.Carew, celebrated
artist of his day. Its acquisition by the borough was initially due to
the Member of Parliament for Pontefract in the mid-1880's, Mr. Benjamin
Oliveria. But complications developed, ending with some gentlemen, whose
names had been applied to the tablet, having them removed for failing to
keep their word concerning the financing of the project.
The
background is contained in the copies of the minutes at that time, along
with correspondence, preserved among the papers of the late Mr. T.P.
Brindley, of Pontefract. On December 3rd, 1885, writing from Upper Hyde
Park Street, London, Mr. Oliveria told the worshipful Mayor of
Pontefract that his friend, Mr. Carew, the celebrated ‘Sculptor’,
had presented him with the model.
"After
carefully considering the purpose to which I might appropriate this work
of art," went on the M.P., "It seems to me that the most
proper course to adopt is to offer it to the Corporation of the Borough
I have the honour to represent. It might probably be placed at the
extremity of your Town Hall. Should the present be deemed acceptable by
you and your colleagues, you will be good enough to let me know that I
may inform Mr. Carew of its destination."
He
added that the artist himself had kindly proposed to superintend the
model’s removal and fixing it in place at Pontefract.
Ten
days later the Town council resolved unanimously that their best thanks
be presented to Mr. Oliveria for his kind presentation of "the
magnificent model for the ornamental decoration of the Common
Hall," and that they "adopt with pleasure the artistic work of
merit." Then difficulties began to develop because, it is said, Mr.
Oliveria had no legal title and so could not present the model to the
town, a public subscription had to be raised to meet expenses.
As
a consequence, the council met in February 1856 to determine whether Mr.
Oliveria's name should remain on the tablet as its donor. They resolved:
"That the name of Mr. Oliveria be retained on the Nelson Tablet and
that the best thanks of this meeting are due to him for his having been
the means of so noble a work of art being presented to the Town and
Corporation, whereby the Hall in which it has been placed is stamped
with a National Character which time cannot destroy."
By
December 1857, it was resolved that: "The rent and payments paid
for use of the Town Hall be appropriated towards discharging the debt
against Nelson’s Model, and that the names of several gentlemen
painted on Nelson's Model be struck off." These being the gentlemen
who had promised to contribute towards the cost of removing, conveying
and erecting the model, but had failed to do so. Three months later, in
February 1858, the council resolved that "the taking out of the
names of several gentlemen painted on the model be carried out by the
Repairs Committee."
To
wind up the story, also among Mr. Brindley's papers is a letter written
from Dunromin, Hartley Park Avenue, Pontefract, by T.Y. Lodge saying:
"I had it from my great uncle, William Whitfield, who died aged 94
in the first year of the Great War (1914-1918), that he was one of
several who went from Pontefract to London to remove the model, convey
it to Pontefract, and fix it in its present position.
[
1972 Index ]
