Sir Phillip at rest |
Before
Christmas I found Bisham Church locked. As it was the last on my list of Berks
Churches to see I was determined to negotiate entry. This I achieved last week
and went along to see All Saints with churching chums Chris and Ricardo.
The
high spot at All Saints is the Hoby Chapel in the South aisle. A stout
alabaster monument, a typical family shrine of the Tudor age.
Next
to it, dressed in armour and head resting gently on his helmet is Sir Philip
Hoby, diplomat, (d.1566) again this is a virtuoso piece of carving in
alabaster.
Philip’s
sister-in-law, Elizabeth Hoby, in her first marriage (1528–1609) had the chapel
built.
Elizabeth
re-married to Lord Russell and her tomb is so
much grander. This was without doubt funerary bling and a little research tells
that Elizabeth was born at Gidea Hall, Essex! She was by all accounts an early
modern woman writer, through her correspondence, poems, monumental inscriptions
and elegies. There are numerous writings about her courtroom appearances: Later
in life she became litigious and pursued grievances in law, not always
successfully.
Feisty
is the womankind of Essex.
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Thank you very much for your comments - Tim