CHASTE AND TASTEFUL CHALKING, EXETER, 1828.

 At New Year, 1828, Lady Rolle patronised a Charity Ball for the benefit of Exeter' Deaf and Dumb Institution.  More than five hundred people of rank and fashion from the four counties were expected at Congdon's Devon and Exeter Royal Public Rooms.

The floor was chalked.  By a happy touch this was done by a a  deaf and dumb painter.   The Exeter Flying Post of 3rd January gives this account of  Mr. Bond's chalking:

"The floor was chastely and tastefully chalked by Mr. Bond, herald painter, of Verney-place. in this city, who is deaf and dumb; the front of the Orchestra being emblazoned  with the arms of R. W. Newman, Esq. High-Sheriff of Devon. In the centre of the floor at the upper end of the Room was the King's Arms, and in scrolls at the right and left, the crests of Sir R. H. Vivian and Sir T. Lethbridge;  further down the centre was the crest of the Portman family.   In the centre of the room were the arms of  the Rolle and the Clinton family's (sic) combined;  on the right of which was the Acland crest, and on the left that of the Bastard family. Still descending the room, in the centre equi-distant with that of  Portman, was the crest of the Banks' family, and on the left and right, still lower, the crests of Dickinson and Pendarves - terminating at the bottom with the City Arms, the intervals at the side containing in scrolls, the Rose, Thistle, Shamrock, and Acorn, the whole being inclosed  in a border, forming fifteen scrolls for as many sets of Quadrilles."

Chalking the dance-floor served the double purpose of  brightening the place up and stopping the dancers from falling over.  This report is a rare description of a lost art.  There is enough detail for someone with a lot of time on his hands to re-construct Mr. Bond's tour-de-force.

Herald-painting must have been a satisfying occupation.  I imagine Mr. Bond working peacefully, painting coats-of-arms on coach panels and elsewhere.  For the Ball, however, he must have spent hours shuffling about on his knees producing a work of art that was to be obliterated overnight by the feet of the five hundred dancers of rank and fashion there assembled.  I just hope he had a fair deal and went home to Verney Street in funds and happy.  

Perhaps of particular interest to experts in the field of Regency dancing might be the rare reference here to areas marked out in chalk where the quadrilles were to be danced.

Why was the Acorn chalked alongside the Shamrock, Rose and Thistle?   - Was it there to commemorate the Restoration?

The only chalking these days seems to be at Princesshay and outside the Central Station where Extinction Rebellion chalk their gloomy fears.