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THE CHRISTIAN MEMORIAL DEPOT, 263 Mansfield Road, NOTTINGHAM.
WILLIAM JACKSON, Memorial Architect and Sculptor, Importer and Worker of Marble, Granite, &c
FROM the earliest period of the world's history, its inhabitants of all races and climes have adopted the custom of commemorating their dead in imperishable memorials, many of which in existence to-day testify to the great antiquity of the stoneworker's handicraft, and the skill exercised in the design and execution of these ancient relics of long gone-by ages. That this custom still survives with undiminished practice as a token of honour and respect is evidenced by a visit to the large showrooms of the Christian Memorial Depot, where, by permission of Mr. W. Jackson, M.S.A., our representative was allowed an opportunity of inspecting one of the most complete collections of sculptured and memorial works exhibited in the Midland Counties.
It may be well to state as preliminary to a description of the establishment, that the present proprietor, Mr. William Jackson, has been connected with the Christian Memorial Depot since its original foundation in 1865, and, as inscribed in a little pamphlet containing a list of patronage, numbers among his clients many of the clergy and influential residents in all parts of the country. The depot is situated at the top of Mansfield Road, near the Church Cemetery entrance, and consists of a range of spacious, well-lighted showrooms in which is placed the immense stock of finished memorials, furnishing practical testimony to the artistic handicraft of which Mr. Jackson is a past master. Designs of every description and size are represented in the collection, from the simple cross or headstone to the more massive sarcophagus, wrought in beautiful Forno marble imported direct from Carrara, the principal source of supply, or the equally durable granite procured from the chief Aberdeen, Peterhead, N.B. (Delia Cassa, of which quarries Mr. W. Jackson is connected), and other Italian and Scotch quarries. In the workshops convenient accommodation is provided for the various processes of preparing the material, carving, polishing, etc., in which the services of a staff of highly-skilled artizans are employed as assistants in carrying out the original designs of the principal.
This gentleman exercises the closest personal supervision over every detail of the work performed, in which his unusually lengthened experience of nearly forty years has made him expertly familiar with each class of materials, and the methods by which they should be manipulated to suit the designs they are intended to represent, thus offering an assurance to clients that nothing will be permitted to emanate from the depot below the high standard developed from an extensive practical knowledge. Mr. Jackson holds the qualification of M.S.A., his original profession, and is a shareholder in the marble and granite quarries, one of the principal proprietors of the Church Cemetery, and a shareholder of the General Cemetery, undertakings whose interests are in every way identical with the vocation in which he is engaged. With the facilities for production thus briefly outlined it will be readily understood that Mr. Jackson is in a position to meet every requirement of his clients in design and construction of memorial or architectural work at much less cost than charges quoted by masons and dealers, many of whom indeed find it to their advantage to procure materials from this depot. In conclusion, we may be permitted to suggest, to prevent confusion of names, that the principal of this establishment, to whose courtesy we are indebted for assistance in the compilation of this brief notice, is in no sense connected with any firm of similar title, his business interests being solely confined to the direction of the Christian Memorial Depot, with which he has been so long and successfully associated as proprietor.
