Colston Bassett
St John the Divine

Monuments and Memorials

North Aisle

On the wall of the north aisle, near the porch, is a large marble tablet bearing the arms, crest, and motto of Knowles. The inscription beneath states:

This church was erected
in the year 1892,
by Robert Millington Knowles,
of Colston Bassett hall in this parish,
in memory of his eldest son
John Haslam Knowles,
who died Augst 15TH 1890, aged 21 years.
and his beloved wife
Alice Catherine Knowles,
who died march 13TH 1892, aged 39 years.

Eastward of the last mentioned tablet is an oblong brass plate, inscribed:

IN AFFECTIONATE REMEMBRANCE OF
THE REV: JOSHUA BROOKE, M.A.,
FOR FIFTY-THREE YEARS THE BELOVED AND RESPECTED
VICAR OF THIS PARISH: SON OF THE REV. JOSHUA BROOKE,
ALSO VICAR OF THIS PARISH, AND OF GAMSTON, NOTTS.
BORN 4TH OCTR 1810, DIED 30TH APRIL, 1888.
'WHERE I AM, THERE SHALL ALSO MY SERVANT BE.'

South Aisle

In the south aisle is a large white marble tablet removed from the old church.

It bears a long inscription:

Sacred to the memory of HENRY MARTIN, of Colston Basset, Esq.
who departed this life June 18, 1839, aged 75 years.
He was the second son of Captn William Martin, R.N. by Arabella, his wife,
daughter of Admiral Wm Rowley, of Tending Hall in the County of Suffolk, K.B.
In early life he served as an Ensign in the 69th Regiment, in North America,
the corps to which he was attached having been embarked on board the fleet,
he was present in the actions of Jan. 25, and April 12, 1782, and other naval engagements.
He afterwards embraced the profession of the Law, in which he speedily
attained eminence, and in 1805 was appointed one of His Majesty's Counsel;
soon after the Union he entered the House of Commons as member for Kinsale,
which borough he represented for a period of sixteen years.
His career was marked by the undaunted assertion of the principles
of civil and religious liberty, in times of no ordinary difficulty;
he enjoyed the friendship of Fox, Erskine, Romilly, and other great statesmen
of the age; and on the accession of Earl Grey's administration, was appointed by
Henry Lord Brougham to be one of the Masters in Chancery, which office
he discharged with distinguished ability till within a few days of his decease.
He was kind, generous, and affectionate, and died
beloved by his children, and respected by his friends.
Likewise to the memory of Maria Elizabeth, his wife,
daughter of Francis Edmunds, of Worsbro' in the County of York, Esq.
To an understanding above the common class, she united a most warm
and generous disposition, which secured to her the affection and esteem
of all who had the happiness to know her.
She died on the 31st of Augt 1827, and after a separation of twelve years
is united in death to him she loved best when living.

North Transept

Against the east wall of the north transept stands a splendid white marble monument, erected by Lord and Lady Crawshaw to the beloved memory of their daughter Alice Catherine Knowles who died in 1892 aged 39. It consists of an upright full-sized and angelic figure fronting a large crucifix with the words:

BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHICH DIE
IN THE LORD FROM HENCEFORTH
YEA SAYETH THE SPIRIT THAT THEY
MAY REST FROM THEIR LABOURS

The inscription at the bottom of the monument reads:

THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED BY LORD AND LADY CRAWSHAW
TO THE BELOVED MEMORY OF THEIR DAUGHTER
ALICE CATHERINE KNOWLES
WHO DIED MARCH 13 1892.

Against the north wall is a well executed alabaster tablet bearing the arms, crest, and motto of Knowles, and an inscription to the memory of John Haslam Knowles who was drowned in the River Liddel in 1890 and of Alfred Millington Knowles, Lieutenant South Notts. Imperial Yeomanry, who was killed in action near Buffleshoek, South Africa, in 1900. The inscription reads:

In loving memory of
JOHN HASLAM KNOWLES
Born July 27th 1869 and drowned in the river
Liddle Cumberland • August 15th 1890 • Aged 21 years •
And ALFRED MILLINGTON KNOWLES
Lieut South Notts Imperial Yeomanry • Born May 23rd
1871 • Killed in action near Buffleshoek • South Africa
August 9th 1900 • Aged 29 years • Sons of ROBERT
MILLINGTON KNOWLES • Colston Bassett Hall • Notts •

Other memorial tablets attached to the side aisle walls.

Robert Millington knowles, died 28th November 1924:

SACRED TO THE MEMORY
OF
ROBERT MILLINGTON KNOWLES
OF COLSTON BASSETT HALL,
DEPUTY LIEUTENANT, JUSTICE OF THE PEACE,
AND ALDERMAN OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL
FOR NOTTINGHAMSHIRE,
WHO, DURING A LONG LIFE, ABLY AND
CONSCIENTIOUSLY ACCEPTED
HIS PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITIES.
HE DIED ON THE 28TH NOVEMBER 1924
IN HIS 82ND YEAR,
AND RESTS BY THE WALLS OF THIS CHURCH
WHICH HE ERECTED.
THIS MEMORIAL WAS PLACED HERE
BY HIS AFFECTIONATE DAUGHTER
AND SON-IN-LAW
EVELYN AND EDWARD LE MARCHANT.
THE MEMORY OF THE JUST IS BLESSED.

Brigadier General Sir Edward Thomas Le Marchant died 1953 and his wife Evelyn Brookes Knowles died 1957 and their children. Their children and grand children refurbished the tablet in 1992.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF
BRIG GENERAL SIR EDWARD THOMAS LE MARCHANT
4TH BARONET, K.C.B. C.B.E.
1871 – 1953
AND HIS WIFE
EVELYN BROOKS KNOWLES
1877 – 1957.
WHO WITH THEIR CHILDREN
RUTH 1900 – 1982, DENIS 1906 – 1987, GEVA 1914 – 1932,
JOAN 1901 – 1984, ALFRED 1906 -1986, BARBARA 1916 – 1938
WORSHIPPED HERE FOR MANY YEARS.
THIS FAMILY CHAPEL
WAS REFURNISHED IN 1992
BY THEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.