Nottinghamshire: history and archaeology | Miscellaneous articles: Military Effigies in Nottinghamshire before the Black Death (2)

Military Effigies in Nottinghamshire before the Black Death (2)

By Rev. Henry Lawrence, M.A. and T E Routh

IV. STAUNTON (1).

A mere torso of this effigy survives, without either head, arms or legs. A detailed description is, therefore, impossible. The left hand seems to have been placed on the breast: perhaps the right arm lay down the side. The uncharged shield is supported by a guige: the long flowing surcoat is confined at the waist by a girdle. The sword is placed in a diagonal position across the body, but its attachment to the sword-belt cannot be determined.

A date about 1290 would suit this effigy, which without doubt represents a member of the Staunton family, in all probability Sir William Staunton who died about that time.¹

V. WEST BRIDGFORD.

This effigy now lies in the north aisle of the rebuilt church. It has been so badly treated that little remains either to date or identify it. The head rests on a square cushion, the hands are joined in prayer, the shield is uncharged. The knight wears a long flowing surcoat, confined at the waist by a girdle and reaching almost to the heels.

The most likely knight to be commemorated seems to be Sir Robert Lutterell, who died 25 Ed. I., leaving lands in Gamston and Bridgford with a capital messuage at the former, and twelve bovates in demesne at West Bridgford, together with the advowson of the church there. This date suits the effigy, the only question being whether he would not have been more likely to have been buried at Irnham in Lincolnshire, apparently his principal manor.

VI. GONALSTON (2).

The head of this effigy, which has been unsatisfactorily restored, rests on a double cushion. The mail is fastened over the cervelière with a plain fillet and is further secured on the left side with an arming-point. The hands are joined in prayer and the mittens are fastened at the wrists with straps. The surcoat is confined at the waist by a girdle ornamented with metal studs. The sword-belt is also enriched with circular discs and is fastened to the scabbard at the two ends, a somewhat early method of attachment. The scabbard itself is richly ornamented. The knee-caps, evidently of cuirbourn, are quite plain. The right foot has disappeared, but the left wearing a prick-spur rests on a lion. The shield, supported by a guige and further secured by an enarm, shows sufficient of the original charges to make it certain that it bore the arms of Heriz, or three hedgehogs sable.²

It would seem that John Heriz, who died c. 1270, was succeeded by Henry de Heriz.³ In any case another John paid scutage for four knights’ fees in 1279 and 1287.⁴ This Sir John was a knight of some importance and in 1297 was appointed one of the commissioners, Sir Richard Bingham being the other, to collect the lay-subsidy in the West Riding of Yorkshire.⁵

He died in 1300;⁶ his son John, who paid relief in the following year, died before 3 Ed.. iii. (1330).⁷ The effigy seems to date from about 1310, but it was probably made soon after the death of the earlier Sir John.⁸

(1) Thoroton illustrates this effigy and represents the shield as being charged with the arms of Staunton; his drawings, however, are notoriously inaccurate.
(2) Planché’s and Dering’s Rolls. It does not appear what authority there is for the arms in stained glass above the effigy, azure three hedgehogs or.
(3) Pipe Roll 55 Hen. iii., and Roll of Arms (of the same reign.).
(4) Pipe Roll 7 and 15 Ed. i.
(5) Cal. Pat. Rolls.
(6) Inq. p.m. 27 Ed. i.
(7) Feudal Aids and Pipe Roll 30 Ed. i.
(8)This effigy is illustrated Arch. Journal. vi. 5. (1850) and the same drawing is reproduced Thor. Soc. Trans. vi.