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

BIDEFORD

SS4526 CHURCH WALK 842-1/6/77 Clark Memorial tablet attached to NE corner of Church of St Mary

GV II

Memorial tablet (probably a re-set headstone) attached to outer wall of north chancel chapel. Commemorates Captain Henry Clark (d 1836). A single piece of slate incised with a drawing of a single-masted ship in full sail, together 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. (Tedrake: Illustrated Guide to Bideford: 1895-: P.57-61).

Listing NGR: SS4540626426