Representative Church Body Library, Dublin MS 64 Letters and drawings relating to the erection of a memorial to James Ussher (1581-1656), Archbishop of Armagh 1625-56, in Westminster Abbey. 1901-1905 From Mrs Mary Bowen, daughter of John Gwynn, Regius Professor of Divinity, Trinity College, Dublin, through the Very Revd R. Wyse Jackson, Dean of Cashel, 1953 1. Correspondence 1. 31 Oct 1901 [Very Revd] G[eorge] G[ranville] Bradley, [Dean of Westminster 1881-1902], Deanery, Westminster, London SW to [? Revd John Gwynn, Regius Professor of Divinity, Trinity College, Dublin] - space over Ussher's grave very narrow; he is the only archbishop buried in the Abbey; no objection to a slightly raised stone; a fee would be charged; inscription must be clear and legible; the Abbey architect, J. Micklethwaite should be consulted. 2. 4 May 1903 [Very Revd] J[oseph] Armitage Robinson, [Dean of Westminster 1902-11], 1 The Abbey Garden, Westminster to Professor [John Gwynn] - wonders what the objection to a brass was; a figure in lawn sleeves would not be very beautiful; a brass could be very expensive; dislikes modern brasses; favours a small brass like that of Dean Bill [William Bill, Dean of Westminster 1560-61]; life size brasses seldom satisfactory; does not like the idea of a raised slab; sketch of suggested brass - shield over a figure with inscription in Latin underneath. 3. 12 May 1904 Louis C[laude] Purser, [Professor of Latin, Trinity College, Dublin], 24 Trinity College, Dublin to Dr Gwynn - suggested epitaph admirable; makes a few suggestions in the direction of "...pedantic classicism...". 4. 20 Jun 1904 J. Armitage Robinson, The Deanery, Westminster to Dr Gwynn - encloses suggested design [? Nos 2/7 or 2/8 below]; suggests letters cut in a plain stone and filled with metal; seeks Gwynn's approval. 5. 24 Jun 1904 J. Armitage Robinson, The Deanery, Westminster to Professor [Gwynn] - glad that Gwynn approves; can get a block of Irish stone here and suggests the metal used on Livingstone's grave; best to have the work done here; requests drawings of an Irish cross and the arms and mitre of Ussher. 6. 5 Oct [19]04 [Revd] R[obert] M[alcolm] Gwynn, [Lecturer in Divinity, Trinity College, Dublin], The Deanery, Westminster to [Professor John Gwynn, his] Father - reporting what he has done on the Dean's instructions; marble work being done by Farmer & Brindley on Westminster Bridge Road; they have to get a piece of black Irish marble specially quarried in Donegal; the enamelling of the arms may not be possible and if not they must be engraved in brass; the meaning of Ussher's arms has yet to be etablished. 7. 23 May 1905 [Revd] R[ichard] B[elward] Rackham, [Master of the Community of the Resurrection, Mirfield, Yorkshire], The Deanery, Westminster to Dr Gwynn - the Dean is thoroughly satisfied with the Ussher stone; has sent a rubbing of it to Miss Salmon; the Dean has undergone a cataract operation; sends good wishes to Robin [Gwynn]. 8. 23 May 1905 H.W. Barnes, Farmer & Brindley, 63 Westminster Bridge Road, London SE to Dr Gwynn - £85 quoted for the memorial was an estimate; only 10% was added to the actual cost as well as the fee to the Abbey authorities. 9. [n.d.] J.T. Micklethwaite, [architect, Dean's Yard, Westminster] to [? John Gwynn] - seeks a seal of Ussher; cannot get one in London; wants to know the meaning of part of his arms. [Incomplete: lacks beginning]. 2. Drawings and Inscriptions 1. [n.d.] Tracing of the heads of Irish round crosses at Clonmacnoise and at Antrim. 2. [n.d.] Tracing of ? position of memorial in Westminster Abbey. 3. [n.d.] Tracing of measured sketch of the memorial. 4. [n.d.] Tracings of the arms of Henry Ussher [d.1613; Archbishop of Armagh 1595- 1613]. 5. [n.d.] Sketch of the memorial. 6. [n.d.] Wording in Latin for the memorial. 7. [n.d.] Sketch of the wording surmounted by a celtic cross. 8. [n.d.] Do. .