Wednesday 18 November 2015

Wednesday (2)


Yesterday we motored over to Long Melford to deal with several birds with one stone (mainly horological). We had a very good lunch at the Black Lion, and I recommend the place. After lunch we had half an hour to spare before the next clock stop, so, as the Black Lion is near the Church in Long Melford we awarded ourselves a potter round the Church. We'd been there before, a good many years ago, but I'd forgotten the incredible stained glass  there is in Long Melford Church. It is said to have the finest display of early glass in the country, and I certainly don't know of a better one.  The lady in the stained glass window shown in the photograph above seemed vaguely familiar, as I'm sure she will to several of my readers. It turns out that this portrait was used as a model by Tenniel to illustrate the Duchess in 'Alice in Wonderland'. Tenniel decided that she was a perfect model for the Duchess. Louis Carol credits the lady with that sublime piece of poetry sung by the Duchess  ( quoted from memory, but I think it's about right) :-

'Be cruel to your little boy,
and beat him when he sneezes.
He only does it to annoy;
Because he knows it teases.'

P.s. Didn't trust my memory on that verse, so checked it, and it starts -
"Speak harshly to your little boy........."   Sorry.

                                    __________________________________

                                    Good night, Everyone.

2 comments:

Crowbard said...

Thought I knew of Elizabeth née Talbot b.1443 d.1507, checked the family tree and there she was, daughter of the 1st Earl of Shrewsbury, she married John de Mowbray, 4th Duke of Norfolk. Nice to know she's still remembered in Long Melford.

Unknown said...

See the blog entry for Sunday 22nd NOvember for more details from Long Melford Church.