Blogs of Note

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Monday, 14 March 2011

Brookwood Cemetery's Saddest Memorial

According to the author of London's Necropolis, John M Clarke the Pelham-Clinton memorial  is probably the most important in the cemetery. The statue group depicts a grief-stricken man crouching over the corpse of a woman,with one hand cupped behind her head. Above them, her angelic form soars heavenward, wings outspread and her face turned back with an expression of great  sympathy.

The sculpture is called Into the Way of Peace and commemorates Matilda Jane Pelham Clinton (1825-1892) who was married to Lord Edward Pelham-Clinton. She served in Queen Victoria's private household. A bronze inscription plaque was stolen some years ago. Her husband was the only non-Royal to attend Victoria's funeral in 1901. John Clarke records that the new King asked Pelham-Clinton to scatter earth on the late Queen's coffin.

Photo: Laurie Manton
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2 comments:

  1. Margaret Pangert15 March 2011 at 23:33

    This is an amazing sculpture, Laurie. As though you had found it in a noble museum... I wonder if Matilda was a charismatic beauty in her youth to have had such devotion at death. Your photograph really does it justice. (I had to go back to the Chorley Matilda to see if it was the same one!)

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  2. Joy Neighbors17 March 2011 at 23:10

    Hello and congratulations Laurie! I have selected your blog to receive the “One Lovely Blog” award! Please stop by my blog for more details. Thanks! Joy
    http://agraveinterest.blogspot.com/

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