Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 10.djvu/365

 9* 8.x. NOV. 1,1902.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

357

acquired the name of Bassett's Pole, as it marked the boundary of Bassett's land. Ogilby (' Book of the Roads,' 1674) shows the pole as standing at 111 miles 4 furlongs from London, on the east side of the road. Mr. F. Wolferstan, writing from Drayton Bassett, 17 January, 1756, says :

" On the south side, the parish and the county are both bounded by a hedge and a little gutter coming from Bassett's heath, which lyes on the West of the parish ; and for the many rot.ds which cross it is well known by travellers ; but particularly for a place about the middle of it called Bassett's Pole, a noted mark and guide for travellers, as it stands just on the spot where the road from Tamworth to Birmingham cuts the great road to London at right angles. It used to stand like a maypole, twenty-hve or thirty feet high ; but is worn to the stump, though it is said it will be renewed, the parish, or the lord as some say, being obliged to maintain it."

It probably was renewed, as ' Yate's Map of Warwickshire,' 1787, shows a lofty pole at . that point. It has since disappeared, but the stump remained for many years.

W. H. DUIGNAN. Walsall.

GAERICK'S STATUE OF SHAKESPEARE (9 th S. x. 288). The original statue by Roubiliac of Shakespeare that was executed for David Garrick, and placed in his garden at Hamp- ton, was after his decease, in conformity to his will, removed to the British Museum, where it now stands in the entrance hall. From an inscription on the pedestal it appears that the statue was finished in 1758. This statue of Shakespeare is one of Roubiliac's finest works, and probably one of the finest statues produced of England's immortal bard.

David Garrick, from his correspondence, was eminently skilful in the art of bargain- making, and persuaded the enthusiastic sculptor to undertake the work for the paltry sum of 300 guineas, which would not cover the price of the model and the marble. CHARLES GREEN.

18, Shrewsbury Road, Sheffield.

The following extracts from ' A Book for a Rainy Day,' by J. T. Smith, may prove of interest. It occurs in an account of a visit to Garrick's villa at Hampton in 1829, then occupied by Mr. Carr, the proprietor :

" As we entered the Temple, instead of seeing a vacant recess, we were agreeably surprised to find that the present owner had occupied it by a cast of Roubiliac's statue of Shakspeare, most carefully taken by Mr. Garrard. similar to the one with which he furnished the late Mr. Whitbread for the Hall of Drury Lane Theatre. On our return to the villa we were shown a small statue of Mr. Garrick, in the character of Roscius ; but by whom it was modelled I was not able to learn. The following

inscription was placed under the plinth: 'This figure of Garrick was given to Mr. Garrard, A.R.A., by his widow, and is now respectfully presented to Mrs. Carr, to be placed in Garrick's villa, July 14, 1825.' "

There is also a very interesting description in the same book of many relics connected with the great actor, and several pictures of him and Mrs. Garrick, who died in 1822.

JOHN PICKFORD, M.A.

Newbourne Rectory, Woodbridge.

The statue of Shakespeare is in the British Museum. It was bequeathed to the British Museum by Garrick, who died 20 January, 1779. The statue is the work of Louis Fran- cois Roubiliac (often misspelt Roubiliac), born 1695, died 11 January, 1762.

THOMAS WHITE.

Liverpool.

OAKHAM CASTLE AND ITS HORSESHOES (8 th S. xii. 226 ; 9 th S- v. 130). The accompanying cutting from the Daily Mail of 8 September will form an interesting addition to the above references :

"The latest additions to the unique collection of gilt horseshoes in the castle at Oakham, to which every peer of the realm passing through the town is required to contribute, are those of the Duke of Sutherland and Lord Hamilton of Dalzell. The shoes have this week been placed in position by the custodian. Both the King and Queen have contributed shoes."

JOHN T. PAGE.

West Haddon, Northamptonshire.

THE BROOCH OF LORN (9 th S. x. 268). An inquiry was made in the pages of ' N. & Q.' (3 rd S. ix. 59) for the fullest account of the traditions connected with this famous trinket, but no reply appeared.

In Sir Walter Scott's ' Lord of the Isles ' there is a description in six stanzas of the Brooch of Lorn :

Whence the brooch of burning gold That clasps the chieftain's mantle fold, Wrought and chased with rare device, Studded fair with gems of price.

EVERARD HOME COLEMAN. 71, Brecknock Road,

This brooch, once in the keeping of Robert Bruce of Scotland, came into the possession of her late Majesty the Queen in 1842, during a visit to the then Marquis of Breadalbane at Taymouth Castle, when it was presented to her by the head of the clan Macdougall, then Admiral Sir John Macdougall, K.C.B., of Dunollie, who, the ' County Families ' informs us, was descended from Spmerled, Thane of Argyll and the Isles, and lineally represented the ancient Lords of Lorn.

J. HOLDEN MAcMlCIIAEL.