Brief Visit to Herefordshire - Part 2: St Mary's, Burford, Shropshire

 

On the Wednesday which was dry and sunny and a bit too hot for me! I hatched a cunning plan.  I knew B wanted to get some compost and I wanted to go back to the church of St Mary at Burford. There is a large garden centre right by the church so I suggested we go there and I could look round the church while he looked for compost.

The red sandstone church of St Mary is located 200 yards from the River Teme. The chancel is 12th century and the nave 14th century. A church has existed on the site since before the Domesday Book. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building by Historic England.  The current church was restored in 1889, in memory of Lord Northwick of Burford who had owned the estate, by Sir Aston Webb. It was early in his career when he still believed in a free Arts and Crafts Gothic.

The church is special to me as my paternal grandmother came from Burford and I have memories of visiting this church every Easter time to put flowers on her family's graves.  Sadly, I have looked twice for these graves (there are 3 or 4 of them in the name of Clarke) without success.

As time was limited (as usual!) I planned on getting more photos of the interior as my visit last time was cut short but the outside of the church is fascinating with amazing corbels and grotesques. If you would like to see these here is a link to the blog post St Mary Burford Exterior

B said he would look for my grandmother's family graves and we'd go to the nurseries together later so a quick whizz round the interior! I did remember to put all the lights on in the church but it was still very dark in places so even with iso 3400 and f2.8 some of the photos are still a bit "iffy".

The font is 14th century

The West Window

Looking along the nave towards the chancel.  The wrought iron candelabra are  from the Sir Aston Webb restoration and were designed by him.

List of Rectors of the church

War Memorial Tablets

Monuments to the Rushout family - Elizabeth and Caroline.

I didn't get photos of all the memorial tablets - many were high on the wall.

This window of Lord Fanhope (formerly Sir John Cornewalle) with his wife the Princess Elizabeth is by James Powell of Whitefriars as is the West Window.

The pulpit again dates from the Sir Aston Webb restoration.

Looking down the nave from the chancel.

Mosaic floor again from the Restoration.

There are some fascinating tombs and effigies in the chancel area.

The Cornewalls were Barons of Burford from 1304 to 1727 and lived in Burford Castle which was more or less on the site of the present Burford House.

Life sized painted wooden effigy of Edmund Cornewall died 1508 aged just 20.

Life sized painted stone effigy of Princess Elizabeth, daughter of John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster, and sister to King Henry IV. She was the wife of John Holland, Earl of Huntingdon and Duke of Exeter and then married to Sir John Cornewalle, Knight of the Garter and Lord Fanhope.  She had initially married at the age of 16 John Hastings, Earl of Pembroke who was aged only 8! but the marriage was annulled. She died in 1426.

I really should have taken more photos of this monument but you guessed it I omitted to read the list of features I missed last time!.

People on the approach - maskless and I heard coughing! Hence I only took a few more photos.

This is the "heart tomb" of Edmond Cornewall, son and heir to Richard Cornewall of Burford.  He was a knight who died in Cologne in 1436 and and in his will asked his servant to bury his body there and return his heart to Burford to be buried. It is possible part of this tomb was originally an altar.

Another Cornewall monument high on the wall.

Altar and Reredos

Also in the roped off area of the chancel was this Triptych.  Sadly, I didn't dare get any closer let alone open it! It is 3.45 metres high and 3.05 metres wide But behind the doors are life sized portraits of Richard Cornewall, 9th Baron Burford(died 1568), his wife Jenet (died 1547 and of Edmund Cornewall their eldest son and heir.  Painted and signed by Melchoir Salabuss in 1588.  It was erected by Thomas Cornewalle, brother and heir to Edmund who died without heirs.  Beneath the upper section are more doors behind which is the figure of Edmund 7 foot three inches tall (died 1585).  Leaning against the wall nearby is a replica of his poll axe with his initials. Yes, you guessed correctly I missed it! Although it could be just to the right of the tryptych??

Back in the churchyard.

I met up with B who had failed too to find the Clarke family graves.  I think I will have to email the church to see if they have a record of who is buried there and yes I know I have said this before!

The lychgate is again in memory of Lord Northwick donated by friends and tenants.

A link to another blog post on St Mary's where I visited the exterior again and the interior very briefly St Mary Burford Exterior and Interior briefly

I hope everyone is staying safe and well.

Reference : A Short Guide to St Mary's Church compiled by the Rev. C G Challenger MA Rector 1961/67

British Listed Buildings Website

"The Buildings of England Shropshire" by Nikolaus Pevsner Penguin Books 1958

All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera (if anyone wishes to use any of my photos I would be grateful please for an email first - thank you).