Brass Plaque
Category
Metalwork
Date
1917
Materials
Brass
Measurements
242 mm (Height); 508 mm (Length)
Order this imageCollection
Buckland Abbey, Devon
NT 809632
Summary
Brass plaque commemorating the reconsecration of the Chapel by Lord and Lady Seaton in 1917. Coat of arms at top left of plaque.
Full description
Brass plaque commemorating the reconsecration of the Chapel by Lord and Lady Seaton in 1917. The Coat of Arms on the top left of the plaque are those of Lord Seaton (John Elliot-Drake Colborne, 3rd Baron Seaton), who married Elizabeth Fuller-Elliot Drake in 1887. The motto and supporters for the Arms were initially granted to Lord Seaton’s grandfather, John Colborne (1778-1863), when he was created a Baron in 1839. The motto ‘Sperat infestis’ means ‘hope in adversity.’ The supporters of the arms are – to the left, a soldier of the 52nd Oxfordshire Regiment of Foot and to the right, a First Nations figure holding a tomahawk and a spear. These arms stem from both Colborne’s military career and his colonial roles in Canada. The soldier represents Colborne’s career as a British Army officer. He fought during the Peninsular war and at the Battle of Waterloo where he led the 52nd Regiment of Foot. In 1828, Colborne was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada. This was a province established in 1791 as part of British Canada, covering the region south west of the Ottawa river and North of the Great Lakes, now known as Southern Ontario. These lands were the territory of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee (Iroquois), Huron-Wendt/Huron-Wendat, Attawandaron (Neutral), Lenape, Ojibway/Chippewa, and Wendat Indigenous Peoples. Colborne’s colonial role initiated large scale immigration from Britain, increasing the population of the province by an estimated 70% during his time in office (1828 – 1836). To make way for this British settlement, reserves were established with European style houses and schools. Many Indigenous peoples were removed to these reserves. From 1836 – 38, Colborne was Commander in chief of all British forces in British North America. During this time he supressed two rebellions by French Canadian militants. Due to a complex series of alliances and treaties dating back into the 18th century, Indigenous peoples from the area, primarily the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois), were allied to the British. They played a role in helping Colborne supress these rebellions and perhaps explains the inclusion of a First Nations warrior on Colborne’s Coat of Arms.
Marks and inscriptions
THIS CHAPEL ON THE SITE OF THE ANCIENT SANCTUARY, OR CHOIR OF THE ABBEY CHURCH, WAS REDISCOVERED AND RESTORED TO THE SERVICE AND GLORY OF GOD BY MAJOR THE RIGHT HON. LORD AND LADY SEATON, ASSISTED BY OLIVER GLOYNE, CLERK OF THE WORKS. THE WORK WAS BEGUN ON SEPTEMBER 14th 1916, ON RETURN FROM SALONICA, AND WAS FINISHED IN SEPTEMBER 1917. / THE ALTAR STANDS ON THE ANCIENT FOUNDATION AND IS BUILT ENTIRELY OF ANCIENT CUT STONES, TILES ETC, SIC PARVIS MAGNA / AN EMPTY GRAVE UNDER THE THIRD STEP OF THE FORMER HIGH ALTAR, WAS DISCOVERED AND COVERED OVER WHEN THE CHAPEL WAS RESTORED IT WAS POSSIBLY THAT OF 'AMICIA' THE FOUNDRESS OF THE ABBEY