Firebacks

Description: Arched rectangular shape; cavetto moulding on all sides, with short gaps at each end of the base (possibly to accommodate firedogs); date in top corners; shield, supporters, coronet and motto of the Barony of Bergavenny: Gules, on a saltire argent, a rose of the field, barbed and seeded proper. The motto, ‘Ne vile velis’ (Wish nothing base) is a pun on the family name.

Notes: The arms are those of William Nevill, 16th Baron Bergavenny, of Kidbrooke Park, Forest Row, Sussex. The date of the fireback coincides with the completion of the mansion. Formerly part of the J. H. Every collection.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: 1736 / NE VILE VELIS

Arms: William Nevill, 16th Baron Bergavenny

Description: Rectangular, with arched rectangular extension on top; double astragal edging (top & sides); shield, helmet, crest and mantling of the Pelham family: quarterly, 1st and 4th, Azure, three pelicans vulning themselves proper; 2nd and 3rd, Gules, two broken belts palewise the buckles upwards argent; the crest: a peacock in pride argent.

Notes: The arms may be those of Sir Nicholas Pelham (1517-59) or of one of his two sons, Sir John (d. 1580) or Sir Thomas (c1540-1624); the latter was created a Baronet in 1611. As there is no evidence of the augmentation of a baronet on the arms, the fireback probably predates the creation of the baronetcy. Formerly part of the J. H. Every collection.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Arms: Sir Nicholas, Sir John or Sir Thomas Pelham

Description: Rectangular, with low curved top and stepped concave corners; suspended floral-chain border on top and sides; alternate small and large rings along the bottom; plain panel at base. Arms of Webster, baronet, of Battle: Azure, on a bend argent, cotised Or, between two demi-lions ermine, a rose gules, barbed and seeded proper, between two boars’ heads couped sable.

Notes: Sir Thomas Webster was created baronet in 1703; he was succeeded by his son, Whistler, in 1750. A pair of matching, cast-iron side plates form a set with this fireback.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Arms: Webster of Battle

Description: Arched rectangular shape; rebated fillet edging; shield, helm, crest and mantling of the family of Barttelot of Stopham, Sussex.

Notes: The shield is divided into eight quarters (from left) top: Barttelot, Stopham, Lewknor, Doyley; bottom: Tregoz, Camoys, Walton and Sykeston; arms granted in this form in 1616. Walter Bartlett/Barttelot ran Pallingham furnace in the early 17th century, suggesting a possible place of manufacture.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Arms: Barttelot of Stopham

Description: Rectangular with an arched rectangular style arch linked by symmetrical concave curves; ovolo moulding (top and sides); shield, helmet, crest and mantling of the family of Baker, of Mayfield, quartered with Farnden, of Sedlescombe: Quarterly, 1st and 4th, Argent, a tower between three keys erect sable (Baker); 2nd and 3rd, Purpure, a chevron vairy Or and gules, between three leopards’ faces Or (Farnden); crest (Baker): on a tower sable an arm embowed in mail holding in the hand a flint-stone proper. Date split by mantling.

Notes: A carved armorial on a plain, edged base board. John Baker (1644-1723) married Ruth, daughter and co-heiress of Peter Farnden, in 1663; she died in 1691. During their marriage the Farnden arms, would have been borne as an escutcheon of pretence in the centre of the arms of Baker, and not quartered with those of her husband until after her death. The date, 1690, is therefore spurious and would have been added to a later copy of a mid-18th century armorial fireback (see no. 16).

Inscription: 16 90

Arms: Baker of Mayfield quartering Farnden of Sedlescombe

Description: Arched shape; double-fillet edged arched border, with six evenly-spaced roses, resting on pilasters; shield, supporters, garter and coronet of the Earl of Exeter; plain rectangular bottom panel.

Notes: The arms are of the earldom of Exeter, which was created in 1605 for Thomas Cecil, 2nd Lord Burghley (1542-1623).

Inscription: HONY SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE [illegible]

Arms: Cecil, Earls of Exeter

Description: Arched shape; cavetto-moulded edging to the arch; quartered shield with an, off-centre, knight's helm, wreath and mantling, and crest of a cubit arm vested, or habited, cuffed and erased holding an arrow in bend sinister; the shield has, in the 1st quarter three lions rampant, in the 2nd a bend cotised, in the 3rd possibly a lion rampant, and in the 4th possibly a dragon rampant within a bordure indented; below the shield, a partially indistinct motto.

Notes: From the style of the mantling the pattern carver may have also been responsible for other firebacks from the west Midlands or Welsh border area. A short horizontal fillet on the right extending perpendicular to the vertical fillet edging below the arch indicates that the fireback originally was of arched rectangular shape and extended to the left and right. The cavetto edging around the arch would have extended to the bottom of the fireback were this not so.

Inscription: ...ACH CAVSE...

Arms: Not known

Description: Arched rectangular shape with ovolo-moulded edging and narrow extensions to sides; central shield bearing arms with lion rampant supporters and motto scroll beneath; above, a marquesal coronet; date split between top corners; inserted initials above coronet; on top of arch, two downward facing dolphins with tails entwined.

Notes: The arms are of the family of Henry Pierrepont, marquess of Dorchester and earl of Kingston-upon-Hull, of Thoresby Hall, Nottinghamshire (blazon: argent semi of cinquefoils gules, a lion rampant sable), with the motto: Pie Repone Te (Place yourself piously), a pun on the name, Pierrepont. Confusingly, the marquisate of Dorchester was created twice for members of the same family. In 1645 it was created for Henry Pierrepont, 2nd earl of Kingston-upon-Hull, becoming extinct on his death without surviving male issue in 1680. It was created again for Evelyn Pierrepont, the 5th earl of Kingston in 1706 who was subsequently elevated to the dukedom of Kingston in 1715. The original casting may therefore have dated to between 1645 and 1680 or between 1706 and 1715. The initials may be related to the Halls, the 2nd Duke of Kingston's mother's family, and were probably added with the date in 1728. Woolley & Wallis auction, Salisbury, 8 Jul 2014, lot 518 (£250); Lyon and Turnbull auction, Edinburgh, 1 Sep 2021, lot 10.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: A H / 17 28 / PIE REPONE TE

Arms: Pierrepont, Marquess of Dorchester

Description: Arched rectangle; ovolo, egg-and-dart moulded edging; shield, helm, coronet, crest and mantling; curved inscription panel below shield.

Notes: The heraldic devices on the shield, and the form of the helm and crest suggest this may be a continental achievement of arms; the style of the fireback is, however, is more characteristic of English types.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: ... D HADRIANI ... EQVITE DOM DE HE.. / ... M.. ... ... [?]

Arms: not known

Description: Plain plate with scrolled side edges; canted arched rectangular astragal and fillet top moulding; central shield, crest and motto of the hardy family.

Inscription: ARMEE DE FOI HARDI

Arms: Hardy