Resting on a basement is a curious ancient ridge-backed gravestone, on
which is cut a foliated cross; under this is a small figure clad as a
priest, close to whose head is attached the outline of a bell. On the
right side is a chalice, a book, and a candle; round the edge of the
stone is T: M: O: R: E: U: A, which is conjectured to mean Thomas More,
Vicarius Abbatiæ. It was removed from St. Giles’s.
Among other ancient cumbent figures in this aisle, one is supposed to
represent a Judge who died in Shrewsbury, being robed to the feet, and
having a coif drawn close over his head, and tied under the chin. It is
of the date of Edward I.
Another monumental statue clad in plate armour displays a long loose robe
as the surcoat, which is curiously disposed on one side to shew the
warlike character of the deceased, whose armour, belt, and dagger would
have been otherwise concealed. The head is wrapped in a close cowl.
From the peculiarity of the robe being thrown back, this effigy is
probably unique. Froissart asserts that a similar dress was worn in
battle, and that this kind of long loose drapery proved fatal to Sir John
Chandos, for he “wore over his armour a large robe which fell to ye
ground;” and as it appears, when he marched “entangled his legs so that
he made a stumble, and was killed by the enemy.” The costume of the
present figure (which originally stood on an altar-tomb in St. Alkmund’s
church) may be attributed to the close of the 14th century; but whom it
represents is now unknown.
On the side walls are several neat tablets. An elegant canopied niche
with pinnacles commemorates Edward Jenkins, Esq. of Charlton Hill, co.
Salop, who ably distinguished himself in the first American war, being
then a lieutenant in the 60th regiment, and died May 1, 1820, in his 81st
year.
At the eastern end is a large altar-tomb, on which are recumbent figures
of Richard Onslow, Esq. (Speaker of the House of Commons in the reign of
Elizabeth), and his lady Catherine; the former is dressed in his robes of
office, and the latter in the dress of the times. On the sides and ends
of the monument are small figures of his sons and daughters. He died in
1571, and was buried at St. Chad’s.
Above this is a mural monument representing a gentleman and lady kneeling
opposite to each other under a rich Grecian entablature; the former is
clad in a ruff and long gown, and the latter has a long veil thrown back.
They represent Thomas Edwards, Esq. who died 1634, and Ann his wife,
daughter of Humfrey Baskerville, alderman of London. Over the
entablature is a lady in a richly-laced habit, and a little girl
kneeling, intended for Mary, wife of Thomas Edwards, Esq. and daughter of
Thomas Bonham Norton, Esq. who died in childbirth, 1641.
In the vestry is an old painting of the Crucifixion, which was a century
ago “turned out of the church,” and occasioned at the time some strife
between the parson and his flock.
The living is a vicarage, with St. Giles’s annexed, in the gift of the
Right Hon. Lord Berwick, who received it from the Crown in exchange for
three small livings in Suffolk.
The ruins of the monastic buildings, which are now scattered over an
extent of about nine acres, are not considerable, and will be described
in a notice of the suburb of Abbey-foregate.