Annesley
All Saints

1Memorial to John Musters (died 1689) and his son Charles (died 1719)

This is a memorial tablet mounted low on the wall between the sanctuary and the south choir stalls. It has been cleaned and, perhaps consequently, has a very faded inscription, which reads:

In the Vault underneath Lies the Body of Sr John Musters, Knt, descended from the Ancient family of MUSTERS or DE MONASTERYS of Yorkshire, according to Mr. CAMDEN. His first wife was ANNE the daughter of Sir JOHN MAYNARD, Knt of the BATH by whom he had Issue, JOHN, who married MILLICENT the only daughter & heiress of ADRIAN MUNDY of Derbyshire, by whom he left Many Children MARY who married Sr RICHARD SPENCER of Hert fordshire, Baronet, and after his decease shee married Sr RALPH RADCLIFFE, of the same County, Knt. shee left no issue, and died Sept 3rd, 1719, aged 68, and Lies buried at Hitchen, in Hertfordshire. Shee was a Lady of great Piety & Charity. His second wife was Sarah the Daughter of ANTHONY BIDDULPH of Staffordshire, Esqr, by whom he had Issue, CHARLES, who married MARY the only Daughter and Heiress of Jno. WENTWORTH of Somerlye, in the County of Suffolk, Esqr, and left no Issue. His third wife was JANE the Daughter of Sr FRANCIS BASSETT of Cornwall, Knt, the said JANE survived him but left no issue. Hee at his great Expence Repaired the Church & new built the Chancell & Steeple in the year 1684, and was a person of great Prudence & Charity. Hee died the 28th Day of July in the year 1689, aged 66. This Monument was Directed by the last will of the said CHARLES MUSTERS to the Memory of his Honoured Father. The said CHARLES died Decbr the 18th, 1719, Aged 64, and is Buried in the Vault.

It was brought to Annesley All Saints from Old Colwick Church.

2Plaque to John Chaworth-Musters (died 1887) and his wife Caroline (died 1912)

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF JOHN CHAWORTH-MUSTERS ESQRE OF ANNESLEY PARK, WHO DIED AT AUMONT IN FRANCE NOV. 17TH 1887 AGED 49. BURIED AT LANGAR, NOTTS. AND TO THE MEMORY OF CAROLINE ANN HIS WIFE, DAUGHTER OF HENRY SHERBROOKE ESQRE OF OXTON, WHO DIED AT WIVERTON FEB. 1ST 1912 AGED 70. BURIED AT TITHBY. ALSO TO THE MEMORY OF THEIR SON HENRY CHARLTON CHAWORTH-MUSTERS, LIEUT. 3RD HUSSARS, WHO DIED ON ACTIVE SERVICE, ON THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA, FEB. 24TH 1897, BURIED AT LAGOS.

3Memorial to John Patricius Chaworth-Musters (died 1921)

JOHN PATRICIUS CHAWORTH-MUSTERS, ESQ J.P. BORN JANUARY 13TH 1860, DIED DECEMBER 12TH 1921. HE WAS DEPUTY LT. FOR THE COUNTY A DEVOTED HUSBAND AND FATHER A KIND AND JUST LANDLORD A KEEN NATURALIST AND A MOST LOYAL SUBJECT OF THE KING.

4Memorial to John Musters (died 1685) and his wife Millicent (died 1739)

Detail of the figures

Inscription

John Musters died in 1685 and the memorial was erected by Mary in 1689. Mary herself died in 1739. The sculpture is thought to be by Bushnell, although Lyons (1988) says Grinling Gibbons.

The inscription states:

The piece was brought to Annesley All Saints from Old Colwick Church.

5Memorial to Sophia Musters (died 1819)

Effigy

Inscription

Sophia died in 1819 and the sculpture is by Richard Westmacott, an important artist whose work may be seen on the pediment of the British Museum and who sculpted the statue of Achilles in Hyde Park in London. He was a pupil of Antonio Canova, who sculpted The Three Graces. The three panels on the pedestal depict Sophia’s three talents: painting, music and dancing. It was brought to Annesley All Saints from Old Colwick Church.

The inscription reads:

6Effigy of a knight

This alabaster effigy of a knight wearing a patterned cap with roses on it is considered by some to be that of Sir Henry Chaworth, from the Tudor period. Lyons in his book The Hills of Annesley suggests Sir George Chaworth, a knight who died in 1589. When, in 1924, permission was granted to remove the ancient font from the Old Church, the same document also permits the removal of what is described as a “Crusader’s Effigy” from the Old Church in order to place it along the West Wall of the church on the North Side of the West Door. In 1975 the effigy was moved to the North Aisle. With three competing descriptions, it seems safest to refer to it simply as “Effigy of a Knight”.

7The Achievement of Arms of Patrick Chaworth, 3rd Viscount Chaworth

This Achievement of Arms is dated 1686 and the initials 'PC' are those of Patricius Chaworth, the third and last Viscount Chaworth who died in 1693 without an heir. It depicts the Arms acquired through marriage by the family up to that time. It was badly damaged by vandals whilst still in the old church. Sadly, other earlier Achievements have been lost.

This is an artefact of great historical importance and a great debt is owed to the Kirkby and District Conservation Society, which organised the removal and transportation of this monument to the new Annesley All Saints Church in 1979. It was installed successfully without further damage (but not without difficulty - the tyres of the truck having to be deflated to get it through the door) and can be seen today in the North Aisle. After installation some skilled restoration of the plaster figures was carried out by William Slater of Leeds.

8Leonia de Raines

Effigy of Lady Leonia de Raines

Detail of Leonia de Raines effigy

This effigy of a lady, thought to date from about 1220, was rescued from the Old Church by the Kirkby Conservation Society in 1977 and depicts a heart burial. It is considered to be an effigy of Leonia de Raines, the sister of Ralph Britto de Annesley, who gave the Norman church into the care of the monks of Felley Priory in 1158. Some versions give her name as Leonia de Raines, whilst others are more singular, but the Order of Service for her rededication uses Raines. The formidable Bess of Hardwick was one of her descendants.

9The Annesley Brass

Breton brass

Rubbing of brass

This fascinating brass has features of special interest and some aspects of it are unique. The picture shown on a brass is usually lifeless and stilted, but the picture here is a vibrant one, with graphic detail. The scene shows William Breton on a hunting expedition, accompanied by his hound and is dated 1595. He wears a short jacket, breeches, boots and a most unusual hat, which is much more like a ladies hat of the period than masculine headgear.

In his left hand, Breton carries a longbow, a silent and deadly weapon still used for hunting even after firearms came into general use. (Annesley is, after all, in Robin Hood country.) In his right hand, the figure holds an arrow, which he is about to fit to his bow. Three other arrows are stuck through his belt. He is also armed with a “couteau-de-chasse” and his dog’s leash is attached to his belt. The whole image is a most lively, realistic and compelling one.

Nothing is known about William Breton, nor is his occupation recorded - but we can speculate that he was a keeper or estate manager for the Annesley properties. His surname (given in some accounts as Briton) indicates that his family may have come over with Richard Britto, whose son was known as Le Bret. (The 1642 Protestation Returns for Annesley include a William Brettan).

A note by Mr A E Frost in Transactions of the Thoroton Society, Vol 16, pp 165 - 166 (1912) points out that a brass at Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, dated 1587 and dedicated to John Selwyn, described as a “gent” keeper, shows a man dressed in almost exactly the same way as Breton. One or two other brasses to hunters are known, notably a contemporary one at Hunsdon, Hertfordshire (1591), but no other brass featuring a longbow is known.

The inscription reads:

Translation: 'Here lies the body of William Breton of Annesley who lived until nigh a hundred years of age and died on the thirty-first day of January in the year of our Lord 1595.'

The artefact on display in All Saints Church is a facsimile of the brass originally found in the Old Church burial ground.

10Memorial to Mary Ann Musters (née Chaworth)

This memorial to the last of the Chaworths has an inscription that reads:

TO THE MEMORY OF MARY ANN MUSTERS, DIED 6TH OF FEBRY 1832, AGED 47. FOR HER WHO SLEEPS BENEATH THIS HOLY PLACE, THIS MARBLE SPEAKS OUR GRIEF, BUT POINTS TO THIS: FAITH IN GOD'S MERCIES THROUGH A SAVIOUR'S GRACE, TO WAKE IN REGIONS OF ETERNAL BLISS. MARY ANN MUSTERS WAS ONLY DAUGHTER & HEIRESS OF GEORGE CHAWORTH ESQR OF ANNESLEY IN THE COUNTY OF NOTTINGHAMSHIRE & WIFE OF JOHN MUSTERS ESQR OF COLWICK IN THE SAME COUNTY BY WHOM THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED.