Within Holy Trinity church in Stow Bardolph is the Hare Chapel and within that is this rather unassuming mahogany cabinet.
It's what lies within that makes it interesting. Open the door and you'll find yourself face to face with this life sized wax effigy of a woman. Even though I knew it was there it's one thing seeing photos of it and quite another seeing it for real.
This is Sarah Hare who was born in the village in 1689. She was part of the rich family who owned the manor and she stayed put in the family house her entire life. Besides from having no money worries she never married and very little is recorded about her life. However fame has followed her posthumously. She died on 9th April 1744 from blood poisoning after she pricked her finger with a sewing needle and this was how she set out in her will that she wanted to be remembered. I have no idea whether this was a common funereal practice at the time, but this is only surviving waxen effigy outside of Westminster Abbey. She's wearing her own dress and one of her own wigs made from human hair. It's not a flattering piece, but it's supposed to be a good resemblance. I rather like this slightly frumpy and middle-aged woman with her facial moles.
This is the first of my Norfolk holiday posts.
Arilx
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Practices of the past are so fascinating. I guess that will be said about our times too.
ReplyDeleteHow very strange, I've never heard of anyone requesting this before. You're right, it's certainly not a flattering study! xxx
ReplyDeleteSlightly gruesome but I suspect the motling is age rather than a rather too literal representation of death by blood poisoning. (I wonder where she had been storing her needles!)
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