Tradesman's inscription, Golden Cavalier Monument, 1886

In September 2021, conservators from Sally Strachey Conservation undertook a light clean of the 17th century Golden Cavalier statue. This drew attention to an inscription which records the date of August 1886 and the names of W. G. Jones and J. Dursley of J. Bell & Sons, decorators of Bristol.

That year Joseph Bell & Sons undertook the 'Renovation and decoration of Monuments of Lord Bolingbroke's Family etc' for the sum of eighty one pounds, six shillings and sixpence.

In a letter dated 19th June, 1886, Mr Frank Bell explained in detail what had to be be done. The Golden Cavalier was to have "all the accessories of the figure" repainted and the renewal of "such lettering as may be traced and such cleaning as the gilding of the figure will admit of to be done."

See related Report extract: The St. John Chancel Trust by Brian Carne, 1973