In April 1801, Ellen Jane Woodhouse, daughter of the Dean, married William Robinson. William died of tuberculosis (consumption) in March 1812. In 1813, Ellen Jane moved to Walcote, Bath, with her two daughters. In March 1814, Marianne, the youngest aged seven, died from burns sustained when her nightdress caught fire after standing too close to an open hearth. The older daughter, also called Ellen Jane, was suffering from tuberculosis and she died in 1815, aged thirteen.[1] Many stories have been woven around this tragedy, but the basic facts say much about life and death at this time.[2] Over four years the mother had lost her family. Ellen Jane commissioned Francis Chantrey to sculpt a monument in memory of her two daughters.[3]
Francis Chantrey’s monument to Ellen Jane and Marianne. It is thought to be based on Thomas Banks sculpture of Penelope Boothby, aged 5, in Ashbourne Church.
In
1817, the monument was exhibited in the Royal Academy to high acclaim.[4]
In 1818, it was in Lichfield Cathedral and has become a focus for prayer and
meditation on lost children.[5]
Ellen Jane married twice more, lived until aged 87 (1870) and is buried in
Christchurch cemetery. This was adjacent to her house at Beacon Place, later
Beacon Park.[6]
She left a legacy for the church and school at Christchurch.
Sir Francis
Chantrey, 1831, (Wikipedia, cropped. Public Domain). Remarkably he was blind in
his right eye.
Chantrey also sculpted Bishop Henry
Ryder, Bishop of Lichfield 1824–1836, displayed in the north transept. It was
exhibited in the Royal Academy in 1841, a few months before he died. The bishop
was said to have evangelical fervour and awesome energy.[10]
Henry Ryder,
the kneeling bishop.(Wikipedia, cropped. Public Domain.)
[1]
There are conflicting accounts of the tragic story of the two daughters, but
this is taken from G. Frost, The Sleeping Children 1816–2016, Unpub.
article in the Cathedral Library (2016) and refers to death certificates. See
also cathedral booklet P. Scaife, H. Scaife and R. Prentis, The carvings of
Lichfield Cathedral. (2010).
[2]
It is said the mother moved to Bath to allow the cleaner air of the town to
help her ailing oldest daughter to breath. It is said Marianne went into the
garden to pick snowdrops for her suffering sister, got cold and then stood too
close to a fire.
[3]
The monument has the words ‘remembrance of heaven loved innocence’.
[4]
Reports state mothers and children were weeping at the monument, which had to
be barriered. Small replicas were made and sold.
[5]
There is a notion this location in the south aisle was always where the altar
to St Nicholas stood in the medieval cathedral, but this is probably fanciful.
[6]
An estate of 100 acres area. From Anon, Chantrey’s Sleeping Children, Unpub.
article in cathedral library, undated.
[7]
S, Dunkerley, Francis Chantrey, Sculptor. From Norton to Knighthood. (Sheffield: 1995).
[8]
A lump left under the toes of Ellen Jane are said to show Chantrey thought only
perfection was shown by God, but most likely this was technically required to
strengthen the toes.
[9]
This explains why it looks like the children are sleeping, though folded hemp
sacking under the pillow indicates it is also concerning grief.
[10]
R. Prentis, Chantrey’s kneeling bishops. Unpub. article in cathedral
library (2005).
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