cbnewham
@parishchurches.org
FSA. Author. Photographer. IT specialist.
Church architecture & contents.
If you want to know what churches are open during the day then get my Keyholder for Parish Churches app (Android and Apple).
Bio:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameron_Newham
Church architecture & contents.
If you want to know what churches are open during the day then get my Keyholder for Parish Churches app (Android and Apple).
Bio:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameron_Newham
There's only one place I would shout the name of a village: Yelling (Huntingdonshire). 😄
January 15, 2026 at 5:28 PM
There's only one place I would shout the name of a village: Yelling (Huntingdonshire). 😄
I suspect they are early 16th century and were originally on separate tombs (base of one is chamfered, the other not). Transferred to this Elizabethan tomb chest, possibly by the grandson.
January 15, 2026 at 5:12 PM
I suspect they are early 16th century and were originally on separate tombs (base of one is chamfered, the other not). Transferred to this Elizabethan tomb chest, possibly by the grandson.
Hartwell, C., Pevsner, N. and Williamson, E., The Buildings of England. Derbyshire. (Yale, 2016). p. 399.
Marshall, G. W. (ed.), The Visitations of the County of Nottingham in the years 1569 and 1614 (London, 1871). p. 169.
Marshall, G. W. (ed.), The Visitations of the County of Nottingham in the years 1569 and 1614 (London, 1871). p. 169.
January 15, 2026 at 4:15 PM
Hartwell, C., Pevsner, N. and Williamson, E., The Buildings of England. Derbyshire. (Yale, 2016). p. 399.
Marshall, G. W. (ed.), The Visitations of the County of Nottingham in the years 1569 and 1614 (London, 1871). p. 169.
Marshall, G. W. (ed.), The Visitations of the County of Nottingham in the years 1569 and 1614 (London, 1871). p. 169.
References
Caya, A., 'Encountering the Shrouded Effigies of Thomas Beresford and Agnes Hassall at Fenny Bentley' in Contemporaneity, Volume 8, Number 1 (2019)
Frosch, P., 'Mind thee to die: The Beresford monument at Fenny Bentley' in Church Monuments 15 (Church Monuments Society, 2000), pp. 31-43
Caya, A., 'Encountering the Shrouded Effigies of Thomas Beresford and Agnes Hassall at Fenny Bentley' in Contemporaneity, Volume 8, Number 1 (2019)
Frosch, P., 'Mind thee to die: The Beresford monument at Fenny Bentley' in Church Monuments 15 (Church Monuments Society, 2000), pp. 31-43
January 15, 2026 at 4:15 PM
References
Caya, A., 'Encountering the Shrouded Effigies of Thomas Beresford and Agnes Hassall at Fenny Bentley' in Contemporaneity, Volume 8, Number 1 (2019)
Frosch, P., 'Mind thee to die: The Beresford monument at Fenny Bentley' in Church Monuments 15 (Church Monuments Society, 2000), pp. 31-43
Caya, A., 'Encountering the Shrouded Effigies of Thomas Beresford and Agnes Hassall at Fenny Bentley' in Contemporaneity, Volume 8, Number 1 (2019)
Frosch, P., 'Mind thee to die: The Beresford monument at Fenny Bentley' in Church Monuments 15 (Church Monuments Society, 2000), pp. 31-43
Thomas fought at Agincourt in 1415 alongside his father and was the first Beresford to settle at Fenny Bentley after marrying Agnes Hassall of Cheshire.
I've always thought of them as giant slugs.
Monument number 98 in my book 'Country Church Monuments'
amzn.eu/d/ebbjOKT
I've always thought of them as giant slugs.
Monument number 98 in my book 'Country Church Monuments'
amzn.eu/d/ebbjOKT
Amazon.co.uk
amzn.eu
January 15, 2026 at 4:15 PM
Thomas fought at Agincourt in 1415 alongside his father and was the first Beresford to settle at Fenny Bentley after marrying Agnes Hassall of Cheshire.
I've always thought of them as giant slugs.
Monument number 98 in my book 'Country Church Monuments'
amzn.eu/d/ebbjOKT
I've always thought of them as giant slugs.
Monument number 98 in my book 'Country Church Monuments'
amzn.eu/d/ebbjOKT
The tomb chest dates to the mid-16th century, but the effigies may be older and possibly carved at different times for separate monuments. They were later combined, perhaps by the couple's grandson Laurence.
January 15, 2026 at 4:14 PM
The tomb chest dates to the mid-16th century, but the effigies may be older and possibly carved at different times for separate monuments. They were later combined, perhaps by the couple's grandson Laurence.
Thomas's arms are folded across his chest beneath the shroud; Agnes's hands are positioned in prayer. Along the tomb chest are incised representations of the children, similarly shrouded.
January 15, 2026 at 4:14 PM
Thomas's arms are folded across his chest beneath the shroud; Agnes's hands are positioned in prayer. Along the tomb chest are incised representations of the children, similarly shrouded.
References
Flynn, K. F. N. 'The Mural Painting in the church of Saints Peter and Paul, Chaldon, Surrey' in Surrey Archaeological Collections, 72 (1980). pp. 127-156.
(Available via the Archaeology Data Service website)
Flynn, K. F. N. 'The Mural Painting in the church of Saints Peter and Paul, Chaldon, Surrey' in Surrey Archaeological Collections, 72 (1980). pp. 127-156.
(Available via the Archaeology Data Service website)
January 15, 2026 at 10:55 AM
References
Flynn, K. F. N. 'The Mural Painting in the church of Saints Peter and Paul, Chaldon, Surrey' in Surrey Archaeological Collections, 72 (1980). pp. 127-156.
(Available via the Archaeology Data Service website)
Flynn, K. F. N. 'The Mural Painting in the church of Saints Peter and Paul, Chaldon, Surrey' in Surrey Archaeological Collections, 72 (1980). pp. 127-156.
(Available via the Archaeology Data Service website)
This is powerful vernacular preaching - painted to terrify parishioners into righteousness. The Tree of Knowledge grows at Hell's centre, its serpent coiled around the trunk, reminding viewers where sin began.
Rediscovered under whitewash in 1870, this C12th masterpiece remains remarkably complete.
Rediscovered under whitewash in 1870, this C12th masterpiece remains remarkably complete.
January 15, 2026 at 10:54 AM
This is powerful vernacular preaching - painted to terrify parishioners into righteousness. The Tree of Knowledge grows at Hell's centre, its serpent coiled around the trunk, reminding viewers where sin began.
Rediscovered under whitewash in 1870, this C12th masterpiece remains remarkably complete.
Rediscovered under whitewash in 1870, this C12th masterpiece remains remarkably complete.
The Hell scenes are particularly vivid: a usurer forced to eat red-hot coins, tormented souls boiling in cauldrons, devils wielding flesh-hooks and pitchforks. Above, the saved ascend toward Heaven, though even here a demon attempts to pull one back down the ladder.
January 15, 2026 at 10:53 AM
The Hell scenes are particularly vivid: a usurer forced to eat red-hot coins, tormented souls boiling in cauldrons, devils wielding flesh-hooks and pitchforks. Above, the saved ascend toward Heaven, though even here a demon attempts to pull one back down the ladder.
Divided horizontally by a central 'cloud-band', it shows Hell below and Heaven above, with souls climbing the precarious Ladder of Salvation between them. Christ dramatically harrowing Hell on the lower right, while above, St Michael weighs souls as devils desperately try to tip the scales.
January 15, 2026 at 10:53 AM
Divided horizontally by a central 'cloud-band', it shows Hell below and Heaven above, with souls climbing the precarious Ladder of Salvation between them. Christ dramatically harrowing Hell on the lower right, while above, St Michael weighs souls as devils desperately try to tip the scales.
Saul, N. 'The Will of Sir John de la Pole of Chrishall, Essex' in Monumental Brass Society Bulletin, 132, June 2016 (MBS, 2016). pp. 626-628.
Willatts, R. 'Meeting Report. Chrishall, Essex - 9th April 2016' in Monumental Brass Society Bulletin, 132, June 2016 (MBS, 2016). pp. 624-626.
Willatts, R. 'Meeting Report. Chrishall, Essex - 9th April 2016' in Monumental Brass Society Bulletin, 132, June 2016 (MBS, 2016). pp. 624-626.
January 14, 2026 at 5:39 PM
Saul, N. 'The Will of Sir John de la Pole of Chrishall, Essex' in Monumental Brass Society Bulletin, 132, June 2016 (MBS, 2016). pp. 626-628.
Willatts, R. 'Meeting Report. Chrishall, Essex - 9th April 2016' in Monumental Brass Society Bulletin, 132, June 2016 (MBS, 2016). pp. 624-626.
Willatts, R. 'Meeting Report. Chrishall, Essex - 9th April 2016' in Monumental Brass Society Bulletin, 132, June 2016 (MBS, 2016). pp. 624-626.
References
Bettley, J., and Pevsner, N. The Buildings of England. Essex (Yale, 2007). p. 237.
Manning, C. J., 'Notice of an Undescribed Sepulchral Brass' in The Archaeological Journal, Volume IV, Part 1 (1847). pp. 338-340.
Bettley, J., and Pevsner, N. The Buildings of England. Essex (Yale, 2007). p. 237.
Manning, C. J., 'Notice of an Undescribed Sepulchral Brass' in The Archaeological Journal, Volume IV, Part 1 (1847). pp. 338-340.
January 14, 2026 at 5:39 PM
References
Bettley, J., and Pevsner, N. The Buildings of England. Essex (Yale, 2007). p. 237.
Manning, C. J., 'Notice of an Undescribed Sepulchral Brass' in The Archaeological Journal, Volume IV, Part 1 (1847). pp. 338-340.
Bettley, J., and Pevsner, N. The Buildings of England. Essex (Yale, 2007). p. 237.
Manning, C. J., 'Notice of an Undescribed Sepulchral Brass' in The Archaeological Journal, Volume IV, Part 1 (1847). pp. 338-340.
Joan wears the fashionable nebule headdress with flowing sleeve lappets. John is in full armour of the period. The French inscription survives only in fragments: "sa feme priez" - "his wife prays."
Monument number 138 in my book 'Country Church Monuments'
amzn.eu/d/7qO8gfU
Monument number 138 in my book 'Country Church Monuments'
amzn.eu/d/7qO8gfU
amzn.eu
January 14, 2026 at 5:39 PM
Joan wears the fashionable nebule headdress with flowing sleeve lappets. John is in full armour of the period. The French inscription survives only in fragments: "sa feme priez" - "his wife prays."
Monument number 138 in my book 'Country Church Monuments'
amzn.eu/d/7qO8gfU
Monument number 138 in my book 'Country Church Monuments'
amzn.eu/d/7qO8gfU
The brass was positioned in the south aisle so his effigy would literally lie between the two most important women in his life - his mother's tomb is still visible on the south wall.
January 14, 2026 at 5:38 PM
The brass was positioned in the south aisle so his effigy would literally lie between the two most important women in his life - his mother's tomb is still visible on the south wall.
Unusually, Sir John appears on the right (dexter) side rather than the conventional left. The reason? His will reveals he wished to be buried between his wife Joan and his mother Margaret.
January 14, 2026 at 5:38 PM
Unusually, Sir John appears on the right (dexter) side rather than the conventional left. The reason? His will reveals he wished to be buried between his wife Joan and his mother Margaret.
The spectacles are wonderfully detailed - you can see the frame clearly bridging his nose. While Whichford (Warwickshire) has a similar claim from the 1520s, this Lincolnshire scholar may just edge ahead in the race to be England's first bespectacled stone carving.
January 14, 2026 at 2:27 PM
The spectacles are wonderfully detailed - you can see the frame clearly bridging his nose. While Whichford (Warwickshire) has a similar claim from the 1520s, this Lincolnshire scholar may just edge ahead in the race to be England's first bespectacled stone carving.
The tower was built by Anthony Ellis, a wealthy wool merchant and member of the Staple of Calais. Could this be Ellis's own accountant? An international trader would certainly have needed good bookkeepers. What better way to acknowledge a trusted scribe than to carve him into the church fabric?
January 14, 2026 at 2:27 PM
The tower was built by Anthony Ellis, a wealthy wool merchant and member of the Staple of Calais. Could this be Ellis's own accountant? An international trader would certainly have needed good bookkeepers. What better way to acknowledge a trusted scribe than to carve him into the church fabric?
A reminder that medieval churches were filled with colour, and that occasionally - against all odds - that vivid past still speaks to us directly.
January 13, 2026 at 6:31 PM
A reminder that medieval churches were filled with colour, and that occasionally - against all odds - that vivid past still speaks to us directly.
Neither Pevsner nor the church guide mentions this treasure. Sometimes the best discoveries in England's churches are the ones that have been quietly waiting there all along, overlooked but miraculously intact.
January 13, 2026 at 6:31 PM
Neither Pevsner nor the church guide mentions this treasure. Sometimes the best discoveries in England's churches are the ones that have been quietly waiting there all along, overlooked but miraculously intact.
What makes this survival extraordinary is that for years around 1900, the nave had no roof. Exposed to the elements, yet somehow this delicate polychrome carving endured when so much else was lost.
January 13, 2026 at 6:31 PM
What makes this survival extraordinary is that for years around 1900, the nave had no roof. Exposed to the elements, yet somehow this delicate polychrome carving endured when so much else was lost.