Wax profile of William of Wykeham

In 1822, William Wordsworth gave this wax profile of William of Wykeham to his nephews John and Christopher, who both entered Winchester in 1820. The middle section of the inscription on the reverse reads: ‘To the Wintonians / J + Christopher Wordsworth / from / their very affectionate Uncle / Wm Wordsworth / Rydal Mount / September 1822’.

The lower part of the inscription was written half a century later by Christopher Wordsworth when, in July 1874, he presented it to Martin White Benson (1860-1878). Benson, the son of one of Christopher’s colleagues, was then about to enter Winchester as a Scholar. He died at school aged 17 and there is a fine memorial to him in Cloisters (below). 

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