The pulpit in Ely Cathedral, with ironwork by Potter & Sons, c. 1860. An early handbook to the cathedral explains,
An elegantly carved pulpit has been placed near the entrance to the Choir; it is of Ancaster stone resting upon columns of Purbeck marble, the front relieved by alabaster figures of St. Peter and St. Paul; the steps are of Purbeck marble, guarded by very elaborate scrollwork in iron. It was designed by Sir G.G. Scott, and executed by Messrs. Rattee and Kett; the figures by James Redfern, and the iron work by Messrs. Potter and Son. It was supplied by a legacy left by the daughter of Bishop Allen, and adds much towards the general improvements. [57]
Closer view of the rails.
Potter appears to have been particularly pleased with his ironwork here. The cathedral's more recent brochure reports Bishop Goodwin's anecdote about it: "Harvey Goodwin said that the artist who executed the ironwork ‘seemed sorry to be parted from it’ so ‘in order to soothe his feelings’ he sent him ‘a framed photographic view of his pulpit ... in order that he might hang it over the chimney-piece in his best parlour,' which the Dean hoped would be a source of lasting pleasure. (qtd. in Carson 34). This is a touching proof of the entirely justified pride that the Victorian craftsman took in his work.
Photographs by Patrick Carson, captions, and commentary by Jacqueline Banerjee, with many thanks to Patrick for his valuable additional information. You may use these images without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one. [Click on the images to enlarge them]
Bibliography
Carson, Patrick. Thomas Potter: Victorian Craftsman, 1804-1895. Privately printed, 2018.
Handbook to the Cathedral Church, with Some Account of the Monastic Buildings, etc. at Ely. 11th ed. Ely: T.A. Hills and Son, 1880. Project Gutenberg. Web. 12 September 2020.
Created 9 September 2020