St Mary the Virgin, Bottesford - Part 2

In Part 2 we will have a look at some of the magnificent tombs and monuments for the Earls of Rutland and Barons de Roos which are located in the chancel area of the church.

At the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1538 the chancel of St Mary's was used as a burial place for the Rutland family and some monuments were brought to the church from Belvoir Priory and Croxton Abbey. Burials continued at the church until a mausoleum was built in 1828 at Belvoir.

Its taken a bit of time to match my photos with names in the church guide but hopefully they are all correct.



Robert de Roos, 1st Baron de Roos - Effigy and Heart Stone, 1285

This small Purbeck Marble effigy was brought from Croxton Abbey and it depicts a knight from the late 13th century. It is accompanied by a plaque or "Heart Stone" also brought from the Abbey. Robert de Roos heart was buried at the Abbey after his death in Yorkshire on 13th May 1285 while his body was interred at Kirkham. (Sorry not the best of photos it was in a difficult position to get a decent picture)

This effigy is just entitled "A Woman c1310"

The effigy was brought from Belvoir Priory again at the Dissolution. Originally it had a base chest bearing the de Roos emblem but this no longer exists. The clothes she is wearing suggest a date of 1310 to 1320 and it may commemorate Maud (or Matilda)de Roos, who was wife of William, 2nd Baron de Roos and son of Robert (seen in the effigy above)

Sir William 7th Baron de Roos KG, died 1414

The tomb is alabaster and was brought from Belvoir Priory. Sir William is dressed in armour with a peacock by his head. Unfortunately I failed to take a photo of the base chest which has weeping angels with spikey wings and shields which may be the work of the Chellaston school of sculptors from Derbyshire. This was one of the last tombs I photographed and I had told D who had left I would only be 10 minutes (I was nearly half an hour!!).

John, 8th Baron de Roos, died 1421

Again the photos aren't brilliant as there were so many items in the way but I did find a photo D had taken which was much better.

Another tomb brought from Belvoir Priory. John was the son of William (see above)

*D



Thomas Manners, 1st Earl of Rutland, died 1543, and Countess Eleanor, died 1551.

This tomb made of alabaster marks the first of the burial in St Mary's of eight Earls and four Dukes over a period of nearly 250 years. The Earl wears mail and full plate armour and the mantle of The Order of the Garter. At his feet is a hornless unicorn. Countess Eleanor's feet rest on a griffon. The base chest shows "weepers" possibly children of the family.

Henry Manners, 2nd Earl of Rutland, died 1563, and Countess Margaret, died 1560.

An unusual tomb where effigies of the Earl and Countess lie beneath a decorated table. The Earl is wearing a coronet and again at his feet is a hornless unicorn. Countess Margaret is wearing a coronet and ermine trimmed mantle with her head resting on a scroll with a lion at her feet.Following the death of Countess Margaret the earl married again to Bridget who lived until 1600. The three kneeling figures are the children of Henry and Margaret - Edward, Elizabeth and John.

Edward Manners, 3rd Earl of Rutland, died 1587 and Countess Isabel

This alabaster tomb was made by Gerard Johanssen - a Flemish craftsman. Earl Edward is wearing full plate armour with the Order of the Garter and Isabel wears a ruff and an ermine trimmed mantle. Their daughter Elizabeth kneels at their feet and she married William Cecil, grandson of Lord Burleigh (High Treasurer of England) when she was only 13 and bore a child at the young age of 15. Sadly she died aged 15. The details on some of the clothing on the effigies really are rather beautiful.

John Manners, 4th Earl of Rutland, died 1588 and Countess Elizabeth.

This tomb was again made by Gerard Johanssen. John died only 10 months after Edward's death. The Earl and Countess had nine children (5 sons and 4 daughters) with two dying in infancy. Effigies of the surviving children (4 boys and 3 girls) surround the tomb although one has apparently disappeared.

I haven't been able to find a photo of the tomb of Roger Manners, 5th Earl of Rutland, died 1612 and Countess Elizabeth who died the same year so we move on now to what is called "The Witchcraft Tomb"

Francis Manners, 6th Earl of Rutland died 1632 and Countesses Frances and Cecilia died 1653

The height of this tomb meant the roof of the chancel had to be raised. Earl Francis lies between Countess Frances and Countess Cecilia. The Earl is shown in court dress plus the garter and mantle of the Order. Countess Frances had one daughter Katherine and died in 1608 only four years after their marriage. She is wearing Elizabethan dress. Countess Cecilia who was a widow married the earl in 1608 and they had two sons Henry and Frances who both died young. Her effigy is wearing Carolean clothes. Katherine is at one end of the tomb and the two sons from the second marriage at the other. The sons carry skulls as symbols of their early and untimely deaths.

Part of the tomb's inscription includes the following words "In 1608 he married Lady Cecilia Hungerford...... by whom he had two sons, both who died in their infancy by wicked practice and sorcerye". The "witches" concerned were arrested for their alleged parts in the death of the sons and were sent to Lincoln for trial. One Joan Flowers died on the journey but her two daughters were executed in 1618. A sad story of less enlightened times.

*D


George Manners, 7th Earl of Rutland, died 1641

A romanesque tomb with the effigy standing and wearing Roman clothes. The Earl's wife Countess Frances died in 1641. She was childless and denied a place on the monument. The tomb was probably made by Grinling Gibbons as it that of the 8th Earl.

John Manners, 8th Earl of Rutland, died 1679 and Countess Frances, died 1671.

A white marble tomb with the effigies again in Romanesque style dress. They had 11 children and of the three sons only the 3rd survived becoming the 9th Earl and in 1703, the 1st Duke of Rutland.

The peacock altar frontal was created by Watts of London in memory of George and Win Johnson 2003.

The Chancel Arch contains the Arms of Queen Victoria and

above are the remains of a "doom" wall painting.

The final post on the day out will include the snowdrop displays at Easton Walled Gardens.


*D Photos taken by my son with the Canon SX50 bridge camera
Rest of photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera


Reference: - For information on the church and tombs I am indebted to the Visitors Gide to St Mary the Virgin, Bottesford, Leicestershire