The Viners (Stone and Marble Masons of Bath) fl 1779 - 1814.
Charles Viner, (d.1823) 10 Morford St, Bath (Bath Chronicle 18 Jan.1798).
Probably the most important member of the Viner family for the purpose of this essay.
Father Gabriel Viner (d. c 1795) listed as Mason, 7 Margarets Blgs in the New Bath Guide of 1780, 1784 and 1792.
Brother William Viner - carpenter owned 9 and 19 Morford St on the West side.
Tomb of Gabriel Viner. c1795. Pennant stone sarcophagus
located north-west of the crossing, close to the church at Weston. The tapering
sarcophagus stands on end plinths over a base, with foliate corner decorations,
and has two stone handles (in the form of garlands) on each side. The cover has
a gadrooned edge. Listed as a strong example of a Neo-classical churchyard
memorial. No 428 on the churchyard plan (see illustation below).
Gunnis notes that the monuments of Charles Viner are quite well executed but not particularly interesting, the best being that to Lady Dundonald, which is a large work in coloured marbles.
The diary of Sir Charles Throckmorton of Coughton Court, Warks contains the entry ‘l4 April, 1795. Agreed with Mr. Viner, of Morford Street, Bath, to erect a marble monument in the Abbey Church of Bath to the memory of Mr. Metcalfe according to the draught given in, for £15’ (Beard 1951, 1641).
In 1814 Viner was paid £133 for black marble for
the staircase hall and, two years later, for the chimneypieces for Doddington
Park, Glos, then being rebuilt by Christopher Codrington.
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A Preliminary List of Works - Charles Viner.
Lady Dundonald, Funerary
Monument d.1779. All Saints, Weston, Bath Somerset. (below).
Robert Coe. Funerary
Monument ?1788 St Swithins, Walcot, Bath, Somerset.
Theophilus Ponting. Funerary
Monument ?1791. Norton St Philip, Somerset
Charlotte Wicker. Funerary
Monument ?1795. Weston, Somerset.
John Taylor. Funerary
Monument ?1806. Newton St Loe, Somerset.
Mr Metcalfe. Funerary
Monument 1795. Bath Abbey, Somerset. untraced
Brigadier-General Joseph Smith Funerary Monument d.1790 Weston, Somerset (below).
Several Chimneypieces. 1816. Doddington Park, Glos. untraced.
John Dick. Funerary
Monument ?1817. Devizes, Wilts.
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The Tomb of General Joseph Smith. c1790. In the Churchyard at Weston, Bath.
Presumably by the Viner Workshop.
The Chest tomb of Bath stone, located north of the north-west end of the church. An elaborate neo-classical memorial on an oval base, the rectangular chest with paired engaged columns with acanthus capitals at the projecting ends.
The main field
sports a fine military trophy in relief, surrounding an inscription panel, the
epitaph of which opens `Here is deposited the noblest work of God / an Honest
Man / A Brave Officer etc. The other side bears a plain marble panel set amid
drapery. The upswept fluted cover rises to a two-stage base bearing a decorated
urn. Listed as an exceptional neo-classical memorial. General Smith died in
1790: he also has the memorial on the north wall (illustrated above) within Weston church. No 53 on the churchyard
plan.
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Martha Vandewall Williams.
Monument carved by C. Viner of Bath.
Bristol Cathedral.
d.1789.
Died at the Hot Wells /on the 18th March 1789 /and in the
19th Year of her age /Martha Vandewall Williams /Eldest Daughter and Coheiress
/of John Williams Esq'r /of Panthowell, /in the County of Carmarthen /and lies
interred near this place.
The marriage settlement of John Williams and Martha Neate.
By 1831, the estate consisted of Panthowell, Panthowell
Mill, Crug y denyon and Ffynnon Sais. In 1834 the estate was sold to Lt-Col
Thomas Samuel Nicholls (1787-1857), of Tenby, Pembrokeshire. In 1837, Nicholls
adopted the name Trafford, his grandmother's family, and built a large mansion
at Panthowell in c. 1850. His second wife, Maria, continued to live at
Panthowell until her death in 1908. The property was then sold to local
farmers.
I suspect that the choice of Viner as sculptor probably lay with her grandmother Martha Vandewall who was living at Lansdown Grove, Lansdown Road, Bath.
The enormously rich Quaker Vandewall / Neate family of Greenwich and Lindsey House, Lincolns Inn Fields have appeared several times in the blog - including -.
https://bathartandarchitecture.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-william-seward-martha-vandewall.html
https://bathartandarchitecture.blogspot.com/2023/06/some-more-vandewall-stuff.html
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Some notes ref. Charles Viner.
Bath Records Office. Archives.
Ref. BC/6/2/9/2057/1 Agreement. 16 Nov 1777. 8 Morford St. Bath
1. Gabriel Viner of the parish of Walcot Somerset, mason and
Mark Spencer of Walcot, carpenter.
2. Joseph Pow of Walcot, carpenter.
Agreement from 1 to 2 subject to rent of a plot of ground in
Morford Street formerly part of Payne's Leaze for building. Rent: £3.
Former Reference Number BC153/2057/1
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Ref. BC/6/2/9/2034/1 10 Morford St - Conveyance by lease and release.
25 Nov 1779 - 26 Nov 1779
1. The Reverend Edward Sheppard and Francis Bennett, linen
draper both of the parish of Walcot Somerset. This is Rev Sheppard later of Chatham Row.
2. Rebecca Morford of the parish of Walcot Somerset,
spinster.
3. Henry Silcock of Walcot, gent. and Hannah his wife (nee
Morford). Rebecca Morford and Hannah Silcock being daughters of John Morford,
gent. and Mary his wife of Walcot, both deceased.
4. Gabriel Viner of Walcot, mason and Mark Spencer of
Walcot, carpenter trustee for Gabriel Viner.
Conveyance from 1, 2 and 3 to 4 subject to rent of a
messuage in Morford Street. Rent: £2:10.
The ref to Dr Sheppard is tantalising .....
Gabriel Viner was the father of Charles Viner.
https://collections.batharchives.co.uk/bc.6.2.9.2034.1
see also
https://collections.batharchives.co.uk/bc.6.2.9.2034.3
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https://collections.batharchives.co.uk/bc.6.2.9.2034.4
Ref. no BC/6/2/9/2034/4 Mortgage by lease and release. 26 Oct 1821-27 Oct 1821.
1. Charles Viner of the parish of Walcot Somerset, gent. son
and devisee in the will of Gabriel Viner of Walcot, mason, deceased.
2. Edward Salmon of Bath, gent.
3. Walter Coleman of Langley Fitzhurst in the parish of
Kingston Saint Michael Wiltshire, Esquire.
Mortgage from 1 and 2 to 3 in fee of a messuage in Morford
Street; for a 500 year lease of two messuages in Saint Margaret's Court; (this refers to Margarets Buildings) for
the remainder of a 989 year lease subject to rent of a plot of ground for
building Saint Margaret's Chapel; for a 500 year lease of two messuages in
Morford Street and eleven messuages known as Viner's Court. Consideration:
£500. Rent: £3:11.
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Gabriel VINER of Bath died 11 March 1795 aged 75 years.
Also Frances VINER relict of above died 16 July 1798 aged 74
years.
Also William BAILEY of Portsmouth died at Bath 4 May 1792
aged 64.
Also Charles VINER of Bath died 22 February 1823 aged 70
years.
Also Ann his wife d 26 Jan 1805 age 41.
And W.B. VINER in infancy.
Also Wm VINER, their son age 28 d at Weston, near Ross,
Herefordshire.
Bath Chronicle Thu, 19 July, 1798. Deaths: Mrs Frances Viner, widow of late Gabriel Viner, builder of Bath at her house in Margaret's Bldgs last Monday.
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For William and Charles Viner of Rivers St and building at Marlborough Blgs Bath see -
https://www.freshford.com/31%20Marlborough%20Buildings/31%20Marlborough%20Buildings%20PDF.pdf
