Mansfield Woodhouse
St Edmund

Monuments and Memorials

Chancel

Plaque on the north wall in memory of Rowland Dand who died in 1621:

D. TRINVNI OM GLORIA
MEMORIA IVSTORVM BENEDICETVR PRO: 10 17

HERE VNDER LYE INTERRED ROWLAND DAND
GENT. AND MARGERY HIS LOVING AND BELOVED
SECOND WYFE; ELDEST DAVGHT’ OF LAVRENCE
WODENOTHE, OF SHAVINTON=WODENOTHE IN YE
COVNTYPALATYNE OF CHESTER ESQ. WHICH
MARGERY BEING OF A GENEROVS NATVRE; TRVE
RELIGIOVS; PITTYFVLL & LIBERALL TO YE POORE
AND NEEDY. HAVING LIVED IN HAPPY MARIAGE
WITH HER SAID HVSBAND 46 YEARES & 27 DAIES
DIED IN THE LORD IESUS ON TEVSDAY THE 13TH OF
MAY IN YE YEARE OF CHRIST 1617 & OF HER AGE 73.
AND THE SAID ROWLAND, FOR HIS APPROVED
WISDOME, INTEGRITY OF LYFE, LOVE TO HIS FRENDS,
PIETY TOWARDS GOD; & PROPENSNES TO YE DOING
OF GOOD; BEING MVCH ESTEEMED & HAVING MERITED
THANKFVLL & NEVERDYING MEMORY OF HIS CHILDREN
& POSTERITY (WCH HE LIVED TO SEE TO YE 4TH GENE=
RATION) ENDED HIS PRAISE WORTHY & WELL ACTED
LYFE IN THE TRVE FAITH OF CHRIST ON MONDAY
THE 8TH OF DECEMBER IN THE YEARE OF GRACE
1623 AND OF HIS AGE 91.

Vitae summa breuis, spem nos vetat inchorae longam

I W  ET RB TESTAMENTI SVI.
EXECVTORES, AMORIS &
OBSERVANTI & ERGO
PP.

There are several floorstones on the chancel floor:

North side:

Beneath are interred
the Remains of
ELLEN TOPLIS CATLOW
(Daughter of the late
REVD SAMUEL CATLOW)
who departed this Life
March 4th 1835
In the 33rd Year of her Age.
South side:

Here lieth the body of Leonard Pinckney Esqr who died the 13th August 1731.

Here lyeth the body of Elizabeth Pinckney widow of the above Leonard Pinckney who died Febry 18th 1747
South side:
Here lies
Hayman Rooke Esq
Obit Sept 1806
Aged 83

Lady Chapel

Digby Monument and Plaque

Sir John Digby Lucie Digby The inscription

The most notable feature in the Lady Chapel is the memorial on the north wall to Sir John Digby, who died in 1684, aged 81 and his wife, Lucie, who died a short time after aged 89. The life-size figures are standing in a stone frame with a curved stone pediment-like top. He is dressed in a full suit of armour of the period with a sash about his shoulder and a helmet at his feet. His wife is wearing a long flowing gown with puffed sleeves and her head-dress is tied beneath her chin. In her hand she holds a pat of butter supposedly to grease St Peter’s palm at the gates of Heaven. At one time Sir Digby was depicted holding his own sword, by the hilt, with the point to the ground. This has long since disappeared. Pevsner (1979) comments that the carving is 'atrociously provincial'.

It seems probable that the memorial is not in its original position. If, before the extension of the sanctuary, the Lady Chapel had been its present size, the unusual situation would have existed where it would have projected beyond the chancel. A smaller chapel would not have provided enough room for the memorial.

Sir John Digby lived in the 15th century building adjacent to the church, known as the Manor House. During the English Civil War he was a supporter of the Royalists and King Charles I. He became High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire in 1641 and received a knighthood in 1642.

There are two inscriptions relating to their family, one in Latin beneath the monument and one in English on the plaque on the south wall.

The Latin inscription reads:

Deo Opt: Max: Sacrum et Memoriae
IOHANNES DIGBY Militis et Lvciae conjugis jplius
HIC
ortu clarus, et maiorum suorum licet non omnino dignitati equalis uirtute
tamen military clarior : uir in Exemplum natus bonitati similimus, uirtutibus tum
ad priuatum cultumtum ad publicam utilitatem spectantibus instructisimus insigriem
tam prudentiam tam in Principem patriames singularem fidem ad honoratissimum
sumini imperator’ officium in comitat’ EBOR’: NOTT’: et LINCOL’ : voluntate serenissimi
Regis prouectus Hoces officio ita perfunctus est ut gratissimum suis memorium sum […]cimo
omnium desiderio loco demum mox sata sedens posteris reliquerit […]
Illa     Ab antique splendidaq TRIGGOTORVM familia in comi : EBOR : orta mari[…]ida
social, et in educandis pie’ liberis, curandaq re domestica mater familias incomparabila
Ille          ohijt ANNO AETATIS SV[E] OCTOG[…]IMO SECVNDO VIXERUNT CONIVG[…]S
Illa    ANNO AETATIS SVE NONAGESIMO SECVNI […]AGINTA ANNOS ET QVINQVE MENSES

The text has been translated as follows:

Sacred to the Almighty and the most great God, and to the memory of John Digby, knight and Lucy his wife.

This

Of famed birth and of greater ...... allow none equal in dignity in any way, nevertheless by virtue more famed than any other knight; at the same time a man born into the example of goodness, notable by virtue as much in private life as in public in the instruction of sinners as much in prudence as in principal for his native country; of singular faith, advanced to the ordering of the most powerful and honourable office in the counties of York, Notts and Lincs and by his office thus discharged ..... by his memory..... of wishes, and at length sitting in the place granted by fate to his descendants .... from the most ancient and splendid family of Trygotts in the county of York came his wife, faithful in public life and in things domestic, mother of the family and most careful in the pious education of children able in all things.

He died in the 82nd year of his life and was survived five months by his wife in the 92nd year of her life.

There is a discrepancy in the historical notes relating to their ages and length of time she survived him.

The inscription on the plaque on the south wall reads:

That it may be known where the Remains of the worthy
Persons deceased are deposited,
IOHN DIGBY Esquire,
Son and Heir of Sir IOHN DIGBY of Mansfield Woodhouse, Kn[ight]
married Frances, sole Daughter of Leonard Pinkney
of Westminster, Esquire;
By whom he had Issue Kenelm, Iohn, George, Lucy, Elizabeth
and Frances; who all, except Iohn, died young.
The first named Iohn died in the 58th Year of his Age,
leaving Frances his Widow, who afterwards married
Charles Osborne Esquire, sole Brother to Thomas Duke of Leeds
and died in the 80th year of her Age, 1725.
IOHN the surviving Son and Heir of Iohn Digby, Iuly 2,
1696, married Anne, eldest Daughter and Coheiress of
 Sir Edward Ayscough of South Kelsey in the County of
Lincoln, Knt, who died the 14th of October following
(as appears by the adjoining Monument)
He afterwards married Iane, the youngest Daughter to Sir
Thomas Wharton of Edlington in the County of York,
Knight of the Bath at the Coronation of King Charles I.
which Sir Thomas was Grandson of Philip by Sir
Thomas Wharton his Son and Heir, the sole Brother
to another Philip, both Lords Whartons.
By her he had Issue Frances, married to Sir Thomas Legard
of Ganton in the County of York Baronet; Iane, married
to Francis Fysher of the Grange, near Grantham in the
County of Lincoln Esquire; Lucy, Anne, Elizabeth, who
all died young; Iohn who died August 11, 1728, in the
23d year of his Age, Philadelphia, married to Sir George
Cayley of Brompton in the County of York, Bart, Rosamond
and Thomas, who both died young; Mary, married to
George Cartwright, of Ossington in the County of Nottingham
Esquire; Priscilla, Henrietta and Lucy.

IOHN DIGBY the Father died August 16, 1722,
To whose Memory, and of his Ancestors here named,
and of his eldest Son,
His widow IANE DIGBY, and his Daughter LEGARD,
in Testimony of their Duty and Affection
have erected this Monument.

MDCCXLVII.

Two plaques on the south wall, next to the screen:

TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN
LOVING MEMORY OF
FRANCIS
NEWMAN ELLIS
KNIGHT OF GRACE
OF THE ORDER OF
ST JOHN OF JERUSALEM
IN THE BRITISH REALM

BORN AT LEICESTER
19TH NOVEMBER 1855
DIED AT DEBDALE HALL
IN THIS PARISH
9TH OCTOBER 1934

In all thy ways acknowledge Him
and He shall direct thy paths.

IN THE FAMILY VAULT BELOW THIS PLACE
LIE THE EARTHLY REMAINS OF
MAJOR GENERAL JOHN HALL OF PARK HALL
IN THE PARISH OF WOODHOUSE
BORN APRIL 10TH 1770 DIED JULY 26TH 1823
AND OF
LETITIA HIS WIFE
ONLY CHILD OF JEFFRY BROCK ESQRE
OF BASFORD IN THE COUNTY OF NOTTINGHAM
BORN SEPT 10TH 1783 DIED MAY 19TH 1870.
“BECAUSE THOU HAST BEEN MY HELPER
THEREFORE UNDER THE SHADOW OF THY WINGS
WILL I REJOICE.” PSALM 63 V.8.
TO THE DEAR MEMORY OF HER PARENTS
THIS TABLET
IS PLACED BY THEIR ONLY DAUGHTER
LETITITA MARY WELFITT.

South Aisle

At the east end of the south wall is a marble tablet in memory of Captain Walter Need (died 1901) and his wife, Emily (died 1910):

TO THE REVERED MEMORY OF
WALTER NEED, CAPTAIN R. N.
(YOUNGEST SON OF COLONEL JOHN NEED, OF
MANSFIELD-WOODHOUSE AND BLIDWORTH)
BORN SEP: 19, 1809; DIED APRIL 5, 1901.
AND
EMILY MCMAHON NEED, HIS WIFE
BORN MARCH 11, 1831; DIED MARCH 29, 1910.
DEVOTED WORSHIPPERS IN THIS CHURCH.
THIS TABLET IS PLACED HERE
BY THEIR CHILDREN.

“IN THY PRESENCE IS THE FULLNESS OF JOY.”

A stone and marble plaque on the south wall:

TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN MEMORY OF
FREDERICK JOHN TURNER

WHO DIED 10 MARCH 1906 AGED 82.
THIS TABLET IS ERECTED BY THE
MANY FRIENDS WHOSE AFFECTION
AND ESTEEM HE WON BY HIS KIND
& GENIAL NATURE AND INTEGRITY
JUSTICE AND ENLIGHTENED VIEWS IN
THE MANAGEMENT OF THE ESTATES
OF THE DUKES OF PORTLAND FOR
WHICH HE WAS FOR FORTY EIGHT
YEARS AGENT *** A WARD IN
MANSFIELD DISTRICT HOSPITAL HAS
ALSO BEEN ERECTED AND
DEDICATED BY THEM AS A FITTING
MONUMENT TO ONE WHO WAS
DISTINGUISHED BY HIS BENEVOLENCE
AND THE PUBLIC SPIRIT OF A GOOD CITIZEN.

Wooden plaque on the south wall to Dr H D Preston (died 1952):

In loving memory of Dr Harold Draycott Preston whose ashes we buried in the churchyard, benefactor and faithful servant of this Church for 30 years. Church Warden from 1945 til his death on February 23rd 1952 RIP.

North Aisle

There are two slabs mounted on the north wall, at the west end. Prior to the late 19th century they were built into the external east chancel wall.

H.S.E.
GULIELMUS TUNSTALL
QUI
Antiqua pro sapla sed
Rebus modicis Natus
Suae Conscientiae Integritatem, et
Familiae Exulantis Fortunam Sequantes
Apud PRESTONAM captivils
Et ad mortem damnatus.
Regis Georgii Clementia vita donates.
Ad senectutem pervenit
Honorabilem  Amabilem Festivam.
Obiit Amicis semper Lugendus
3tio Non: April:
Anno 1728.

Quem neque pauperis neq: Mors neq Vincula tenent.

 

Here lieth ye Body of Mrs
Alice Graham One of the
Sisters of Charles Cock of
Brinsley Gent. She lived to
the [.........] Old [..........]
body S[…......] June 1750.

[Remainder of the text is illegible]

Tower

Monument to John Neale, who died in 1725 aged 68, is partially obscured by the floor of the ringing chamber.

Bust Detail of the lower part
of the inscription		 Detail of the apron

The Latin inscription reads:

M : S.
JOANNIS NEALE de hac Villa ar.,
Fil. Richardi Gen: & Mariae Ux. ejus,
Fratris Elizabethae quam Domui Fitzherbert
De Sommershall=Herbert in Com. Derb.
Felix junxit Connubium,
Mariti Annae, ab antiqua Stirpe PENDOCK,
De Tollerton in com. Nott: oriundae
Viri ad omnimoda Negotia tractanda nati,
at non ita in illis,
Quin se publicis immiscuit Ecclesijs,
Nec parcus Dei Cultor nec infrequens
Fuit in Convivijs suis elegans & lautus,
In Conversatione lepidus & jocosus
at semper sobrius, vigil, experrectus
Caput habuit ad excogitandum,
Linguam ad persuadendum,
Manus & Pedes ad quod libet Munus exequendum
ab adolescentia Calculo laborans,
In Dolore tolerando talis evasit Philosophus,
Ut quicquid de Subjecto isto scripsit Tullius pulchertime,
Pulchrius ipse Vita expressit
Tolerantia illustrevit.
Tandem post Cruciatus diuturnos Vita cedens,
Rem reliquit amplissimam
Majore Gaudio quam acquisivit.
Ob. Prid. jd. Aug:
AD MDCCXXV
AEtat suae LXVIII.

Plaque on the south wall of the tower in memory of William Pinckney (died 1695) and members of his family:

In Memory
of WILLIAM PINCKNEY
of Mansfield Woodhouse Esqr who was
a very worthy Gentleman & Esteem’d
By all that knew Him. He was one of the Tellers of ye
Exchequer in ye Reign of KING CHARLES ye IIst & dyed Sep: 13th 1695.

In Memory also
of LEONARD PINCKNEY Esqr: (Only Son of the
said WILLIAM) who was VERDERER of ye FORREST of
SHIREWOOD, CUSTOMER of NEWCASTLE, GENTLEMAN USHER to
QUEEN ANNE, KING GEORGE the Ist, KING GEORGE the IInd,
and one of His Majesties Justices of ye Peace for this County,
of all which Places He was Possess’d when He
Dyed (much Lamented) Augt 13th 1731 Aged 52.

He Married ELIZABETH the Daughter of JOHN SOUTH
of Kelfton in ye County of Lincoln Esq: She was MAID of
HONOUR to KING JAMES the IInd QUEEN and Surviving
without Issue, Erected this in Affection to Her Dear Husband.

The plaque above the tower door to the belfry is in memory of Dame Jane Wharton who died in 1714:

Here lieth the Body of Dame JANE WHARTON
Daughter of ROWLAND DAND of Mansfield Woodhouse
in the County of Nottingham Esqr. who was first Married to
LEONARD ROBINSON of Kirkby Ravensworth in ye County
of York on the 9th January 1671. She had issue by him
one Daughter who Died young.
Her second Husband was ye Honble. Sr THOS WHARTON
Knight of ye Bath, Brother of ye Right Honble ye Lord
WHARTON whom She married ye 4th of May 1676 & had
Issue by him two Daughters ELIZABETH & JANE : Elizabeth
married Thomas Benet of Salthorpe in ye County
of Wilts Esqr. Jane married John Digby of Mansfield Woodhouse in ye County of
Nottingham Esqr. She Departed this Life
on ye 14th day of June 1714 in ye 75th Year
of her Age.

Here also Lyeth ye Body of Jane daughter
of THO BENET of Salthorpe in ye County of
Wilts Esqr. by ELIZ Eldest Daughter of ye
Honble SR THO WHARTON Kt of ye Bath. His
Second wife Born May ye 5th 1714. Departed this
Life Augst 11th 1716.

(NB there is an error on the inscription regarding the dates in the last sentence).

There are two tablets on the west wall, to the left of the tower door:

SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
HARRIET WRIGHT MILNER,
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
3RD FEBRUARY 1826;
AGED 38 YEARS.
ALSO
MARY, THE INFANT DAUGHTER OF
EDMUND AND HARRIET MILNER.

SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
CAPTN EDMUND MILNER, R.N.
WHO DIED
AT DOUGLAS, ISLE OF MAN,
28TH SEPTEMBER 1841,
AGED 63 YEARS.


THERE REMAINETH THEREFORE A REST
TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD.

ELIZABETH EYRE
ELDEST DAUGHTER OF GERVAS [EYRE] ESQR
FORMERLY OF RAMPTON IN THIS COUNTY,
DIED APRIL 1ST 1750.
THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED TO HER MEMORY
AT THE REQUEST OF HER ONLY SURVIVING SISTER,
DIANA EYRE, WHO DIED AUGT 17TH 1763,
AGED 71 YEARS
AND ALSO LIES IN THIS CHURCH.

The righteous shall be had in everlasting Remembrance.

There are several memorial plaques on the north wall of the tower. The inscriptions are as follows:

SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
ROBERT TOPLIS,
WHO DIED MARCH 4TH 1831;
AGED 64 YEARS.

ENS ENTIUM MISERERE MEI

ALSO
ELLEN, RELICT OF THE ABOVE
ROBERT TOPLIS,
WHO DIED MAY 3RD 1834;
AGED 67 YEARS.

BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHO DIE
IN THE LORD.

SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
JOHN ANSON SMITH, ESQ.
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
MARCH X . MDCCCXXV.
AGED LXV YEARS;
ALSO ANN SMITH HIS WIFE,
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
SEPTEMBER XIII . MDCCCXXVII,
AGED LXV YEARS.
ALSO WILLIAM ANSON SMITH,
WHO DIED
SEPTEMBER XXV, MDCCCXXXV,
AGED XL YEARS.

La mort est=elle un mal
La vie est-elle un bien.

IN AFFECTIONATE REMEMBRANCE OF
EDWARD WOODCOCK,
WHO DIED FEBRUARY 15TH 1828;
AGED 83 YEARS.

ALSO OF SARAH , RELICT OF
EDWARD WOODCOCK,
WHO DIED DECEMBER 27TH 1839;
AGED 84 YEARS.

Sacred
To the Memory
of
 Joseph Johnson
who died May 15th,
A.D. 1811.

NEAR THIS PLACE
ARE DEPOSITED THE REMAINS OF
HENEAGE PARKER ESQR.
WHO DIED AUGUST 13TH 1812,
 AGED 76 YEARS.