Bunny St Mary

Monuments and Memorials

North Wall of Nave

1The most famous monument in the Church is that of Sir Thomas Parkyns, the famous wrestler. The large monument, two bays wide was designed by Sir Thomas himself before his death in 1741. This monument is now on the north wall at the western end of the nave. It was formerly in the chancel at the east end of the north wall but it was moved in 1912 at the restoration of the chancel. In the left bay it depicts Sir Thomas in a life-size effigy with hands aggressively pointing forward, ready to start a wrestling bout. In the right bay is a tableau reputedly carved by his curate of the wrestler “thrown” by old Father Time. There are lengthy inscriptions in both Latin and Greek

The shield of arms is Parkyns and Cressy. The crest is pineapple.

Here lieth S. Thomas Parkyns, Bart, one of his Majes Justices of ye Peace (the quorum) and Deputie Lieutenant, both of ye counties of Nottingham & Leicester, second son of Sir Thomas Parkyns, Bar, & Anne ye sole daughter & heiress of Tho. Cressey of Berkin in ye countie of York Esq, whose ancestors came in with William ye Norman ye said Sr Tho. Parkyns married Elizabeth ye grand-daughter & heiress of John Sampson Esq Alderman & citizen of London with whom he had ye fee farm rent of 274/02s.08d per annu paid out of ye mannor borough and Bank of Beverley & ye water ye water towns and appurtenances in that county also ye fee farm rent of 43£ 16s 04d issuing out of ye mannor and Castle of Bolsover in ye county of Derby, ye copies of ye deeds of purchase D.1626asare enrolled in Chancery & in money about 3,500£, was educated at Westminster School & Trinity College, Cambridge & in Graye’s Inns of Court 8 years; who purchased ye whole tythe of Bradmore & part of Keyworth formerly ye Duke of Rutland’s, Also a rent of 20 marks per annu payable out of ye tythe of Bunney, Also ye Mannor & estate in Ruddington of Sir Tho.Winford, Bar, Also ye Mannor & estate in Est Leake with ye Mannors & Count Leets of Cortlingstock, Wysall, Thorpe & Willoughby of ye Armstrongs with other estates in Barrow super Soar, Gotham and ye towns before mentioned. He new roofed this chancel, built yevault & erected this monument: gave ye two treble bells to ye church. Built ye Schoolhouse & Hospital which ye Lady Anne endowed with 16£ per annu. He gave to ye poor widows and widowers of Bunny & Bradmore, 5/4s yearly in bread to be distributed every Sunday in Bunney Church. He built ye Mannor houses in Bunney & East Leake. He built ye Vicarage house and most of the farm houses in Bunney & Bradmore, He studied Physick both Gallenick & Paraceloick for ye benefit of his neighbours, had a competent knowledge of most part of the Mathematics, especially Architecture and Hydraulicks & contriving & drawing all his planns without an architect. He wrote the ΠPOPYMNAEMATA or Cornish Hugg Wrestler and was buried March the 25th 1741 aged 78 years. He had two Sons by ye said Elizabeth his wife (viz, Tho, who was buried September 21st Anno 1706, aged 19 years & Sampson who was buried April ye 17th 1713, aged 27 years. who had two sons and two daughters by Alice his wife (viz) Tho who died an infant. Tho. Anne and Harriat; his sister Anne Parkyns gave 20d for ye putting forth poor boys apprentices in ye towns of Bunny, Bradmore and Cortlingstock, was buried Aug 8th anno 1711 aged 39 years.

The above said Sir Thomas Parkyns in 1727 married a second wife Jane eldest daughter of Mr George Barnard. one of the Alderman of the City of York by whom he had two sons and one daughter; Thomas the present Baronet and George and Ann now living. She departed this life August the 27 in the year of Our Lord 1740 and the 33rd year of her age

North Wall of Chancel

2This monument shows effigies of Richard Parkyns who died in 1603 and his wife in contemporary dress with their four sons and daughters. Richard Parkyns was the first Parkyns to own Bunny through his wife who was widow of Humfrey Barlow.

The following inscription is below:

Heare lyeth Richard Parkyns Esquier, Justice of Peace and Quorn in the countie of Nottingham and Recorder of the Townes of Leicester and Notts, and an anceyst utter barrister in the Inner Temple who married and tooke to wief Elizabeth Barlowe then a wydowe, late wife of one Humfrey Barlowe of Stoke in the countie of Darbie, Esquier deceased, being the eldest daughter of Aden Beresford of Ffenny Bentlye in the said countie of Darbie, Esquier deceased by whom the said Richard had 8 children, viz 4 sonnes and 4 daughters that is to saie S George Parkyns Knight, his sonne and heire, Aryan Par, John Par, Aden Par, Ffrances Par, Anne Par, and Margaret Par, and dyed the third daie of Julie 1603 upon whose soule God have mercy

By his will dated June 1603, Richard Parkyns desired to be buried at Bunney before his pew and his widow Elizabeth’s will 8th April 1608 desired to be buried near her husband.

3The next monument is near the vestry door bearing the arms of Parkyns, impaling Cressy .It is of his grandson’s wife Anne who died in 1726 aged 91. She is shown at the top of the monument. Her five children are shown symbolically below, the two dead ones as skulls.

This monument sacred to the memory of Dame Anne Parkyns, Relict of the late, and mother of the now Sir Thomas Parkyns of Bunny, Baronet. She came a blessing into the family at Bunny whether we consider her birth (either as descended from ancient family of Cressey of Berkin in Yorkshire, who came in with Will: the Norman and whose mother was granddaugh. to ye Earl of Dorset, Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth from whom ye present duke proceeds) or her plentifull estate as an heiress, or the wisdom of her conduct in it. Her Principles in Religion were truly Christian deeply grounded & adorned with a suitable conversation. She had 3 sons, Cressey was her eldest; Thomas Luctator, her second; and Beaumont her youngest: 2 daughters Cathrine & Anne. She answer’d ye end of her creation in being kind to her children and grandchildren and long & often denied herself many conveniences due to her quality, fortune and years that she might see them live plentifully in her lifetime. She joyned with her son Sir Thomas Parkyns to qualifie ye poor Vicarage of BUNNY for ye Queens’s bounty (as appears by ye stone set up in ye churchwall) left a good annuity to ye school & ye support of ye poor widds: there & tho’ many good things may deservedly here be written of her, yet nothing can be said to tarnish any part of her happy character, For the sake of her family & as a reward of her piety, God was please’d to draw out her precious life to a good & great age. She died Jany 11th 1725, Aged 92 years.

Behind the Altar in the Chancel

In Memory Of
The Right Honourable
THOMAS BOOTHBY PARKYNS,
First BARON RANCLIFFE
Son and Heir of
SIR THOMAS PARKYNS, BARONET,
Born 24th July 1755.
Died 17th November 1800.

IN MEMORY
OF
THE RIGHT HONORABLE
GEORGE AUGUSTUS HENRY ANNE PARKYNS
BARON RANCLIFFE,
ONLY SON AND HEIR
OF THOMAS BOOTHBY PARKYNS,
FIRST BARON RANCLIFFE
AND ELIZABETH ANNE HIS WIFE
THE DAUGHTER AND HEIR OF
SIR WILLIAM JAMES, BARONET
BORN 10TH JUNE 1785
DIED 1ST NOVEMBER 1850

South Wall of Chancel

IN MEMORY OF
GEORGE ALEXANDER FORTEATH ESQUIRE
BORN OCTOBER 10TH 1819
DIED AT BUNNY PARK
OCTOBER 3rd 1862

“For we are but of yesterday and
know nothing because our days upon
earth are a shadow
Job viii: i”

7Below 6

IN AFFECTIONATE REMEMBRANCE OF
HARRIOT,
WIDOW OF THE ABOVE NAMED
GEORGE ALEXANDER FORTEATH
WHO FELL ASLEEP IN JESUS NOVEMBER 11TH 1875

“Them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him”

IN THE VAULT BENEATH
ARE DEPOSITED THE REMAINS
OF SIR THOMAS PARKYNS BART
OF BUNNY PARK
WHO DIED MARCH 17TH 1806 AGED 77 YEARS

THIS MONUMENT SACRED TO HIS MEMORY WAS ERECTED
BY HIS WIDOW LADY JANE PARKYNS

East Wall of South Aisle

This monument of Human Instability
Is Erected to the Memory of Elizabeth
Only Daughter of Henry Cropper Gent
This Annibule Young Lady was learned above
most of her age and possessed very superior
intellectual Accomplishments and in the midst
of Health, Youth, Beauty ans Innocence was
suddenly called into Eternity on the 9th Day
of April 1800 in the 19th Year
of her Age
Go Spectator and know that thou shall soon die.

Immediately to the right of Monument 9

To the MEMORY of
HENRY CROPPER
Eldest son of HENRY CROPPER
Of Loughborough Gent
A Youth of promifing abilities
Whom Death alas, Prematurely snatched
Away from the fond hopes and desires
of his mourning Parents and Friends
June 22nd 1794 in the 24th Year of his Age

Go reader
Meditate on the Instability of Life
And prepare for Eternity

11In the south aisle at the east end is the most ancient monument (1571) but unfortunately the inscription is obliterated. According to Thoroton it was as follows:

Here lies Humfrey Barley son and heir of Thomas Barley of Stoke Esquire and Dorothy Meverell, wife of the said Thomas which Thomas was son and heir of George Barley of Stoke, Esq; and Alice (it must be Joan), his wife, one of the daughters and heirs of Richard Illingworth, Esq; This Humfrey was thereby one of the Lords of the Manor of Boney and divers other lands in the counties of Notts. and Derby, and took to wife Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Aden Beresford of Fenny Bentley, in the County of Derby, by whom he had Ursula his daughter and heir. The said Humfrey died the 10th of July, Eliz, and was buiried at his Chappell his own Ile, in Stony Middleton, in Derbyshire. And this Monument erected by the said Elizabeth, now wife of Richard Parkyns, Esq; for a remembrance in perpetuity of the said Humfrey and his progeny

South Wall of Nave

TO THE MEMORY OF
HENRY CROPPER, OF LOUGHBOROUGH, GENT.,
AND OF ELIZABETH, HIS WIDOW.
HE DIED THE 5TH OF JUNE 1812,
IN THE 81ST YEAR OF HIS AGE;
AND SHE THE 3RD OF FEBRUARY 1826,
ALSO IN HER 81ST YEAR.
HE WAS A NATIVE OF THIS PARISH;
WHERE RESIDED AND DIED SEVERAL OF HIS
PATERNAL ANCESTORS,
OF WHOM THE FIRST WAS HENRY CROPPER
HIS GREAT - GRANDFATHER,
INTERRED IN THE CHANCEL OF THIS CHURCH IN 1692.
SHE WAS THE HEIRESS OF GEORGE CHAPMAN,
OF THRINGSTONE, IN LEICESTERSHIRE;
AND HER ONLY SURVIVING OFFSPRING IS
JOSEPH ALMOND CROPPER, OF GRAY’S INN,
BARRISTER AT LAW.

13Above the list of Rectors

Sacred to the Memory of
Mr Henry Cropper, Late of Bunny
Who died suddenly (greatly lamented)
the 30th Day of May 1726
in the 54th Year of his Age

And of Rose Cropper his Wife daughter of Joseph Day
formerly of Foston in the County of Lincoln
She died 5th Day of January 1712
in the 32nd Year of Age
Also Of HENRY CROPPER their son
Who died 30th Day of October 1781
Aged 73 Years
And of DOROTHY CROPPER his widow
Daughter of Mr ELKANAH LANG
Formerly of Wakefield in The County of York
She died 12th of Novr 1798
Age 79
Reader cast thine eye around thee
Attend to the Chronicle of Mortality
And let Reflection prepare thee for Eternity

ERECTED TO MEMORY
OF
ISABELLA
WIFE OF REV WILLIAM BEETHAM
RECTOR OF COSTOCK
DIED 25 APRIL 1814
AGED 51 YEARS

15Below Monument 14

ISABELLA ANN BEETHAM
DAUGHTER OF
WILLIAM And ISABELLA BEETHAM
DIED MAY 31 1807 IN HER 16th YEAR

There is a floorstone underneath giving the date of her death again

Floorstones in the Chancel

iImmediately below his father’s monument:

Here lieth S.George Parkyns Knight, the son of Richard Parkyns (as y monument above) and Mary Isham his wife,and was buried ye 22 May A.D.1626.

iiImmediately below her monument:

Her Lyes the BODY of Lady Anne Parkyns Widow and Relict of Sir Thomas Parkyns late of this Town Bar mentioned in ye monument and Mother of the Present Sir Thomas Parkyns mentioned in ye monument above, she was a Lady remarkable for his goodness in providing for her children and al that Descended from thoem who departed this life the 11th day January 1725 in the 92nd year of her age. Luctatoris mater

iii

Here lieth Isham Parkyns Esq, eldest son of S George Parkyns Colonel and Governour of Ashby de la Zouch in ye Civil Wars against ye rebels in King Charles ye 1st time. By Cathrine Cave his wife he had 4 Sons and one Daughter (viz) George, Richard, Theophilus,Thomas & Catharine. He died June ye 21st 1671 aged 70. She died Feb ye 12th 1664

Here Lieth Theophilis Parkyns Esq Buried April ye 4th A.D 1671. Also Jane Wright his wife who was Buried July ye __ 1670 Who Dy’d without Issue

Here Lieth Sir Thomas Parkyns Senr Barron who married Anne ye Sole Daughter and Heiress of Thomas Cressey Esq by whom He had 3 sons and 2 Daughters (viz) Cressey (who Dy’d without Issue). Thomas buried in the vault as his Monument mentions Beaumont Catherine and Anne and was buried July ye 25 AD 1684 aged 45

Here Lies ye body of Beaumont Parkyns Esq (son of the late Sir Thomas Parkyns of Bunny in the County of Nottingham Baronett he Married Jane Daughter of Charles Cotton Esq of Berisford in the County of Stafford by whome He had Issue Seven Sons and two Daughters. He died the 23rd December in ye 47th yr of his age A.D 1714

vii

Jane relict of Beaumont Parkyns Esq died June 19th 1759 aged 65 years.

viii

Stanhope,eldest son of Beaumont and Jane Parkyns died June 19th 1759, aged 65 years.

Charles, another son, died July 7th 1730, aged 34 years

Francis, another son, died June 22nd 1736, aged 38 years.

Beaumont, another son died December 11th 1737, aged 38 years

xii

Theophilus, another son, died July 3rd 1733 in his 28th year

xiii

Ann, daughter, died April 27th 1736, aged 41 years

xiv

Elizabeth, daughter, died February 18th 1757 aged 37 years

Henry Cropper ( ) 1692,aged 49 years;Mary his wife died December ( ) 17 ( ) aged 73 years.

Arms: sable, a fesse and in chief three mullets argent, Cropper

xvi

George Octavius Francis, son of Thomas and Sarah Wright, of Bunny, died Feb 14th 1838, ged 11 years and 1 month

xvii

Thomas, son of Richard and Mary Cripple of Bunny, died December 6th ( ) in his fifth year.

He was a Child of such Sweet temper and excellent Parts that his Cotemporary Tho: Parkyns Esq was pleas’d to make him His Companion & Playfellow

xviii

Frederick Cocker died September 18th 1802, aged 21 years: Mary Ann, daughter of Rev W B Cocker and Catherine his wife, born March 9th 1802, died January 10th 1803: also the Rev W B Cocker, M.A, Vicar of Bunny and Ruddington, died April 25th 1823, aged 50 years.

The following words are inscribed by his own desire. “In the day of judgement it will be seen what he was”

Catherine, widow of Rev W B Cocker, died October 2nd 1836 aged 65 years

Floor Stones in the South Aisle

xix

Here lies the Body of Mr Daniel Fernihough, Vicar of Bunny An Orthodox & faithful Ambassadour of Jesus Christ, Who of his Great Mercy took him from this troublesome World to his Heavenly Mansions on the 20th July 1714

Mrs Elizabeth Allsopp, resident from her early years in the family of Sir Thomas Parkyns, Bart, died June 19th 1798, aged 87 years

xxi

Joseph son of Henry Cropper of Loughborough, died July 16th 1779 in his fourth year

xxii

John son of Henry Cropper died June 1st 1780

Hatchments

There are three hatchments to Parkyns and Forteath families in poor condition. They are diamond shaped heraldic boards about 4ft across and bearing the family coat of arms. The date 1718 is on one of the beams above the hatchments along with the initials J.P and W.T. These are the initials of the church wardens John Peat and William Turpin at the time the church was repaired.