Here’s the story of the Hooke cupboard at the east end of the north aisle – and why the Victoria and Albert museum got so involved in its past!
Dated 1569 this carved oak Sacristy Cupboard [or Vestment Cupboard] is believed to be a unique example from Northern France during the reign of King Charles IX (1560-1574). Carefully chosen workmen were sent to Holland by Charles to study the process of carving oak as well as ebony in an ornate style. Upon their return these men were given quarters in the Louvre in Paris and called “menuisiers en ébène” (carpenters of ebony) and the term ebenistes is now applied to makers of furniture in general. Many fine works were produced by these gifted craftsmen – so we are blessed to be custodians of one of their pieces of furniture.
The cupboard door depicts “The Crucifixion” (probably carved in the style of Donatello’s Crucifixion in bronze, dated 1465) but it’s thought that the central wooden cross on which Christ hangs is an addition dating from c1934 when the cupboard may have been restored under the instruction of its donors – Katherine Hooke and Hilda May Gillatt (grandmother of the late John Gillatt). Certainly the carved figures are all said to date to the late 16th century along with the rest of the cupboard. This piece of furniture is a unique example of French decorative art, as the carved decorations with which the cupboard is ornamented throughout are executed with extreme care and the grained French Oak is highly polished.
Perhaps, what is of greater surprise is the lining of the cupboard which reveals pictures and Latin names of Saints, Apostles and Prophets. During the incumbency of Canon John Howitt (1975-1995) photographs of the cupboard’s lining were sent to the Victoria and Albert Museum to establish whether it was one of the very first wallpapers ever produced or whether the paper was all hand painted by one or more artists. Eventually an expert came up from London to inspect the cupboard and it was determined that the cupboard lining is in fact an 18th century wallpaper (probably French) which utilised hand carved blocks to make imprints on the paper.
Thus, our Vestment Cupboard affectionately known as the Hooke Cupboard, as it was donated in memory of Matthew Hooke (b.1867 d.1934 and Mayor of this City in 1931) has many redeeming features and a wonderful provenance. Hooke & Son were a house furnishers, removals and warehousing business in Bridge Street and New Road, as well as a stationers in Narrow Street.
by Parish archivists, June and Vernon Bull