Relhan Collection : 8 Arrington church. Early English double piscina

Relhan, Richard, 1782-1844

Relhan Collection

<p style='text-align: justify;'><p>Anastatic drawing by RGHW 1847 (Robert Green Hibbert Ware)</p><p>This C13 piscina in St Nicholas’ church must have been recognised as exceptional in a village church when it was uncovered during mid C19 restoration, and was treated as a distinctive feature. Its elegant design is paralleled by examples in Jesus and St John’s Colleges, and at Foxton, Histon (<b>208</b>) and Longstanton St Michael’s (<b>246</b>). There are 2 arches with octofoil drains, springing from 2 half-arches with a missing central shaft. Robert Green Hibbert Ware (1826-1864) studied at Queens’ College 1845, was ordained and held livings in Lancs, Kent and Chrishall in Essex. He married Ellen Barnsley Stuart, had 10 children and died at Chrishall1864. The only suggestion of artistic leanings was that, at a Distribution of Prizes at the York Collegiate Institution in 1842 a 2nd prize was awarded to Master Hibbert Ware, ‘<i>who was very skilful indeed, and who, he had no doubt, would eventually be successful.</i>’ (<i>York Gazette</i> 25 June 1842)’. His father, Samuel Hibbert Ware (1782-1848), was a geologist, author & antiquary, who qualified as a doctor in Edinburgh but never practised, and was a friend of Walter Scott. Anastatic drawing, a form of lithography, was favoured by amateur artists for a short period in mid-C19.</p><p>Bradley and Pevsner 2014; ODNB; Pickles JD pers comm; RCHME 1968; Venn </p></p>