Clark Memorial Tablet Attached To North East Corner Of Church Of St Mary

The Clark Memorial tablet is attached to the outer wall of the north chancel chapel of the Church of St Mary in Bideford. It commemorates Captain Henry Clark, who died in 1836. The tablet is made from a single piece of slate and features an incised drawing of a single-masted ship in full sail, along with the inscription:

"A TRIBUTE To the Memory of CAPTAIN HENRY CLARK, of this Town, Who Departed this Life 28th April 1836, Aged 61 years. Our worthy FRIEND who lies beneath this Stone, Was Master of a Vessel all his own; Houses and lands had he and GOLD in store, He spent the whole, and would if ten times more. For Twenty Years he scarce slept in a BED, Linhays and Limekilns lull'd his weary head, Because he would not to the Poorhouse go, For his proud Spirit would not let him to. The Blackbird's whistling Notes at Break of Day, Used to awake him from his BED of HAY, Unto the Bridge and Quay he then REPAIR'D, To see what SHIPPING up the River Steer'd. OFT in the week he used to VIEW the Bay, To see what SHIPS were coming in from Sea, To Captains wives he brought the welcome News, And to the Relatives of all their CREWS. At last poor HARRY CLARK was taken ill, And carried to the Workhouse 'gainst his Will, But being of this mortal Life quite tired, He liv'd about a month and then expired."

The tablet was erected by public subscription.