|
| The path to
the Deddington Chapel
|
Deddington
Tiny village south east of Launceston notable
for its impressive chapel
A tiny village located 38 km south east of
Launceston, Deddington, and the nearby house 'Patterdale',
were named after villages in Oxfordshire and the
English Lakes District by the artist, John
Glover.
In a brochure published in 1967 the
Historical Committee of the National Trust
described Deddington Chapel, the village's
greatest asset, in the following terms: 'At
Deddington, a small English-like hamlet, about
24 miles south-east of Launceston, along the
Nile River, can be found an Inn, a Post Office,
a small hall, a few cottages, the remains of an
old gaol, and a Chapel. This Chapel was built
one hundred and twenty five years ago and is
closely associated with John Glover, the most
prominent and important artist ever to settle in
Van Diemen's Land. He lived at nearby Patterdale
and worshipped in this small chapel. He, with
his wife Sarah, are buried by the western wall.
'The Chapel was opened for worship by
November 1842. It was built on land given by
Robert Pitcairn, the owner of Nile Farm. The
building, of the simplest design, set amongst
the native trees is said to have been designed
by John Glover...'
The brochure goes on to list the settlers who
helped build the tiny church and then explains
the stipulation that 'the land and burial ground
was solely for the use of Protestants' and that
Presbyterians had full use of the chapel until
they failed to carry out services. This
tradition lasted until the turn of the century
when the village became so reduced in size that
services stopped and the church fell into
disrepair. It was finally restored by the
National Trust in 1967 and celebrated its 150 th
anniversary in good condition.
The Encyclopaedia of Australian Art outlines
Glover's achievements in the following terms:
'He was a skilful and prolific painter of
landscapes with a reputation extending to
France, where he attracted the interest of Louis
XVIII. The French king bought Glover's pictures,
presented him with a gold medal, and was said to
have aroused his interest in migrating to
Australia. A man of considerable wealth, Glover
embarked from Gravesend on 20 Sept. 1830,
arriving Launceston, 18 Feb. 1831, Hobart, 1
Apr. 1831. In Mar. 1832 he set off by wagon for
Mills Plains to occupy his holding - a
government grant of 2,560 acres. He bought an
additional 5,098 acres, built a large house,
Patterdale, a church at the nearby village of
Deddington and lived a happily family life as a
country squire and successful painter...in Tas.
he discovered a new landscape, light, foliage
and atmosphere and responded to the raw and
primitive features of the new country
perceptively enough to attain new individuality
and distinction. The rusticity of his new work
became its greatest strength. A large, heavy man
with two clubbed feet, Glover became a
patriarchal figure. Two of his four sons...were
also painters.'
Glover's house, 'Patterdale', still stands
and is located 4 km east of Deddington. A two
storey Georgian house built in 1832, it is an
unusual combination of rubble stone (the first
floor) and timber (the second floor).
Things to see:
![[Top of page]](smlArrow.gif)
|
| Deddington
Chapel |
Deddington Chapel
This Chapel was built one hundred and twenty
five years ago and is closely associated with
John Glover, the most prominent and important
artist ever to settle in Van Diemen's Land. He
lived at nearby Patterdale and worshipped in
this small chapel. He, with his wife Sarah, are
buried by the western wall.
'The Chapel was opened for worship by
November 1842. It was built on land given by
Robert Pitcairn, the owner of Nile Farm. The
building, of the simplest design, set amongst
the native trees is said to have been designed
by John Glover...'
