1919 Rivington & Blackrod Hand-Carved School Crest Plaque
Herbert Robert Southworth Rivington & Blackrod Grammar School Heraldic Crest Wall Plaque, 1919–1920
Arts & Crafts-Period English Hand-Carved Wood Plaque Made by a 14-Year-Old Scholar
Highlights
• Individually hand-carved English school crest dating from 1919–1920.
• Made by Herbert Robert Southworth when he was reportedly 14 years old.
• Connected with Rivington & Blackrod Grammar School in Lancashire.
• Depicts a bishop’s mitre, star and the initials “RBGS”.
• Executed in low-relief carving with gently rounded edges.
• Retains a handwritten maker’s inscription on the reverse.
• Accompanied by an older provenance label naming its maker and former owners.
• Warm, naturally aged wood surface with attractive historic character.
• Retains a metal hanging bracket for wall display.
• An appealing acquisition for collectors of British educational history, heraldry, folk art and Arts & Crafts-period woodcarving.
Introduction
A distinctive early 20th-century English hand-carved wood wall plaque displaying the historic crest of Rivington & Blackrod Grammar School in Lancashire.
The plaque was carved between 1919 and 1920 by Herbert Robert Southworth, reportedly when he was a 14-year-old scholar at the school. His name, age and the date of creation are recorded on the reverse, while an additional provenance label identifies the plaque, its maker and its former ownership.
The design incorporates a bishop’s mitre, a star and the initials “RBGS”, all executed in shallow relief. The carving combines the formality of institutional heraldry with the individuality and charm of a personally made object.
More than a decorative wall plaque, the piece survives as a tangible record of early 20th-century British school life, practical craftsmanship and the long history of one of Lancashire’s notable educational foundations.
Catalogue Details
Maker: Herbert Robert Southworth
Maker’s status: Scholar at Rivington & Blackrod Grammar School
Maker’s recorded age: 14
Date: 1919–1920
Period: Early 20th century
Style: Arts & Crafts-period British woodcarving
Country of origin: England
Regional association: Rivington, Lancashire
Institution: Rivington & Blackrod Grammar School
Material: Wood
Technique: Hand carving and low-relief carving
Subject: School crest incorporating a bishop’s mitre, star and the initials “RBGS”
Object type: Heraldic wall plaque
Reverse inscription: “Made by H. R. Southworth (age 14) 1919–1920”
Hanging fitting: Metal wall bracket attached to the reverse
Catalogue Note
The plaque is rectangular in form, softened by rounded edges and gently shaped contours. Its central heraldic design is carved in low relief, allowing the mitre, star and lettering to rise subtly from the surrounding surface.
This restrained carving technique creates delicate changes of light and shadow without overwhelming the compact scale of the object. The result is dignified and decorative, combining institutional symbolism with the unmistakable character of hand craftsmanship.
The bishop’s mitre reflects the ecclesiastical heritage associated with the school’s foundation by James Pilkington, Bishop of Durham. The star and prominent “RBGS” initials complete a design intended to communicate the identity and traditions of Rivington & Blackrod Grammar School.
The work was produced during the closing years of the British Arts & Crafts movement, when hand skills, honest materials and individually made objects continued to hold an important place within art and practical education.
Particular interest lies in the survival of the reverse inscription and provenance label. These transform the plaque from an anonymous decorative object into a personal record of its maker, age, school and period of creation.
The carving is not represented as an officially commissioned school object. It is catalogued as an individually made work created by a pupil and bearing the school’s historic crest.
The School
Rivington Grammar School traces its foundation to a charter granted by Queen Elizabeth I to James Pilkington, Bishop of Durham, on 13 May 1566.
Blackrod Grammar School was founded separately in 1568 through the will of John Holme. The two schools combined in 1875, becoming a single educational establishment known as Rivington & Blackrod Grammar School.
A new school opened on the present Rivington Lane site in 1882. By the time Herbert Robert Southworth carved this plaque in 1919–1920, the institution possessed more than three centuries of educational history.
The plaque was therefore created within an established environment of scholarship, tradition and institutional identity. Its heraldic design reflects the pride that generations of pupils associated with the school.
The Carver
The reverse inscription and accompanying provenance label identify the carver as Herbert Robert Southworth, a scholar at Rivington & Blackrod Grammar School.
According to the inscription, Southworth was 14 years old when he made the plaque between 1919 and 1920. The carefully shaped outline, controlled low-relief carving and clearly defined heraldic details demonstrate notable patience and manual ability for a young maker.
No evidence has been identified to suggest that the plaque was commercially manufactured. Its individuality, handwritten documentation and slightly personal handling support its interpretation as a school-period craft project or privately undertaken work.
The survival of Southworth’s name gives the plaque considerable human interest. It records not only the identity of its maker but also a moment in his education more than a century ago.
Provenance
• Carved by Herbert Robert Southworth between 1919 and 1920, reportedly when aged 14 and a scholar at Rivington & Blackrod Grammar School.
• Handwritten reverse inscription: “Made by H. R. Southworth (age 14) 1919–1920”.
• Later provenance label: “Rivington & Blackrod G.S. Crest. Carved by Herbert Robert Southworth 1919–20 when a scholar at the school. Property of S. & A. Lee, Treales Windmill, Treales, Lancs.”
• Formerly in the ownership of S. & A. Lee of Treales Windmill, Treales, Lancashire, according to the attached label.
• Professionally researched, curated and catalogued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®.
Dimensions
Height: 21.2 cm / 8.35 inches
Width: 17.8 cm / 7.01 inches
Depth: 2.5 cm / 0.98 inch
All dimensions are approximate.
The compact scale makes the plaque suitable for a library, study, school-history collection, traditional interior or curated gallery wall.
Condition Report
Offered in good antique condition with age-related wear consistent with more than a century of handling and display.
The carved detail remains clearly defined, and the wood has developed a warm, naturally aged surface.
There is rubbing around the edges together with several small areas of loss and general surface wear. Minor marks, scuffs and variations in colour are present throughout.
The reverse inscription and applied provenance label remain legible and well preserved. The wood appears structurally stable, with no major cracks identified.
No restoration or repair has been detected. The plaque appears to retain its historic surface and original character.
A metal hanging bracket is attached to the reverse for wall display. The suitability and security of the fitting should be checked before installation.
Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition report.
Shipping
Worldwide delivery is available.
The plaque will be professionally packaged with exceptional care and fully insured for safe domestic or international delivery.
Please contact us before purchasing if you require a delivery quotation for your destination.
Attribution and Research Notice
The historical observations, provenance research, attribution analysis and contextual commentary presented within this catalogue entry represent the professional opinion of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. They are offered in good faith as informed scholarly assessments based upon the available evidence, comparative research, published reference material and our experience within the international fine art market.
These observations should be understood as professional opinions rather than definitive statements of fact or guarantees of authorship, attribution, date, origin, provenance or historical interpretation. As with all historic works of art, future documentary discoveries, technical examination, conservation analysis or advances in academic research may refine, expand or revise current interpretations.
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®
Specialising in carefully curated British and European fine art, antiques and historic works of art.
Every artwork is professionally researched and catalogued using comparative scholarship, published reference material and more than two decades of experience within the international fine art market. We are committed to offering collectors works of artistic and historical merit accompanied by transparent provenance research, detailed catalogue descriptions and professional, client-focused service.
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