SK7664 : Edward Dennison Memorial Well
taken 11 years ago, near to Ossington, Nottinghamshire, England

Classical style, grade II listed well-head with Tuscan columns on an octagonal base, a memorial well near the gates to Ossington Hall, erected in 1877 as memorial to Edward Dennison who died in 1870. Edward Dennison was a brilliant young barrister, generous philanthropist and briefly Liberal MP for Newark from 1868 until his untimely death in Australia from a long-standing respiratory problem in 1870 aged 29.
The well head has a number of well-worn inscription panels including ....
This Memorial well erected by Viscountess Ossington, October 1877 :
Is built of stone from Stratford on Avon
The terracotta work from designs of John Birnie Philip
In memory of Edward Dennison
Son of Edward Bishop of Salisbury
Born Sept 8 1840, died at Melbourne, Jan 26 1870
So wise so young, they say, do ne’er live long
[Shakespeare King Richard III]
Yet hath
Made use and fair advantage of his days
His years but young, but his experience old
His head unmellow’d but his judgement ripe
He is complete in feature and in mind
With all good grace to grace a gentleman
[Two Gentlemen of Verona]
With joy shall you draw water out of the wells of salvation
Elements were once but four
Now we number thirty more
Few or many ‘tis confest
Water is of all the best
Freely drink the bottom sound
There with truth will health be found
[Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe, Sep 21 1877]
