Nottingham St PeterMonuments and Memorials
 Monuments
on the
north chancel wall |
The list below gives the names and dates of those commemorated in wall-monuments
in the church. The monuments, and particularly the persons commemorated, are
described in more detail in the booklet The
monuments of St Peter’s Church Nottingham.
Monuments no longer in existence but referred to in earlier sources include
that of the Rev George Cotes (d.1640), whose monument was ‘broke
into pieces’ when the chancel was being repaired in the early 18th Century.
and William Ayscough (d.1719), the first Nottingham printer.
Note: Monuments 37 and 39 to 42 were
formerly in St James’s Church, Standard Hill, and were transferred to
St Peter’s in 1933. This explains
why John Burnett Stuart (1775-1847) is described as ‘first incumbent
of this church’!
Click the blue numbers on the key below for details
of each memorial
Chancel North
There are a large number of monuments on the north chancel wall at the eastern
end.
1 Tempest
family
A substantial black and white marble memorial commemorating John Tempest
(1701-52), his wife Elizabeth (née Scrimshire; d. 1784),
and his brother Robert (1702-55). The bottom of the memorial contains the
arms of the Tempest family.
2Plumbe family
A simple marble oval immediately below that of the Tempest family.
The two girls commemorated, Anne Plumbe (b. and d. 1765) and her sister Tempest
(1770-89), were grand-daughters of John Tempest.
3 A white
marble memorial to Thomas Foster Gimson (1791-1876). He became wealthy as head
of one of Nottingham’s lace manufacturing businesses, but is described
on this monument as “a most liberal contributor to the public Charities
of the Town, and privately a kind friend to the poor.”
4 Dr William Marsden
(1767-1826). A white marble memorial of very classical design carrying a
Latin inscription. The words of the last sentence could be translated:
Alas, how much less it is to weep over your remains than
to remember you.
5 Roe family
A fairly plain white marble memorial with a simple inscription to Martin
Roe (1770-1836) and his wife Salacia (née Stretton; 1784-1838).
Below the Roe family memorial are six much smaller metal plaques, some of
which commemorate people also named on other monuments.
6 A small brass to John Tempest
- the same John Tempest commemorated above.
7 Dorothy
Bigsby (1771-99). She is also commemorated on a more major memorial noted below.
(This brass plaque may originally have been a marker for her actual grave.)
8 John Renshaw (1772-1828),
an attorney-at-law and a man of property (described here as “Gent”).
A small brass memorial.
9 Drury family
This is a small copper memorial commemorating William Drury (d.1677), his
son William (d.1697), his grandson William (d.1711), and his great-grandson
Charles (1704-53) and his wife Ann (née Palmer; d. 1763).
The Drurys were an influential family in 17th and
18th Century Nottingham. The eldest William
being active in the Civil War (on the side of Parliament), the second being
accused at one stage of organising a riot, the third being Mayor of Nottingham
in 1707. Several of the family served as churchwardens of St Peter’s.
10A small
brass to the Rev Samuel Martin (1743-82),
Rector of St Peter’s .
11Another small brass plaque,
this being dediacted to Elizabeth Martin (d.1779 and wife of the Rev Samuel
Martin commemorated above).
Key | Bottom (other pages)
12Memorial
to Mary Stubbs (1812-65). A fairly simple white marble plaque with an inscription
noting a couple of particularly generous donations she made.
13  The Rev Robert
White Almond (1786-1853). A decorative white marble plaque to a man who
was Rector of St Peter’s for 39 years. He was clearly a much loved
and respected minister.
14 Sarah
Butlin (1789-1839). A fairly simple white marble memorial with a plain inscription
noting only that she was the wife of James.
15  Locke
family
Two abutting memorials, in somewhat differing styles, to the two wives of
John Locke of Hertfordshire - Margaret Saunders (1605-33), and Jane Ellis
(1606-37). Or perhaps they should be considered as a single monument, given
the uniformity of the bordering pillars. These black memorials in alabaster
are the oldest in the church, and probably the most magnificent.
16  The Rev George
Edgcome (d.1906), Rector of St Peter’s from 1870. A fairly
small by striking memorial carrying a malachite cross on a grren, gold
and blue glass mosaic background.
Chancel South
17 George
Smith, of Foelallt, Cardiganshire (1775-1843), and his wife Eliza Margaret
(1784-1826). A marble memorial of a similar design to a number of others in
the church.
18 Abson family
A memorial in dark grey marble with touches of gold, and an inscription
in Latin to the Rev John Abson (1689-1749) and his wife Anne (née Cotes;
d.1725). John Abson was actually Rector of St Nicholas’ Church,
but the congregation of St Nicholas’ was welcomed to St Peter’s
in the mid 17th Century, when the old St Nicholas’ Church
was destroyed in the Civil War.
19 Dorothy
Bigsby (1771-99). A simple oval in white marble. (Also in the church, noted above,
is a small brass plaque commemorating the same lady.) Dorothy Bigsby with her
husband Robert and family were much involved with St Peter’s. Robert
was Registrar for the Archdeaconry of Nottingham, and one of his brothers, Jeremiah,
became Rector of St Peter’s.
20  The Rev Edward
Chappell (1692-1767), and his sister Judith (d.1767). A grey and white
marble monument with touches of gold and blue. Edward Chappell was Rector
of the church from 1725 until his death, a total of 43 years.
21  A
polished brass plaque attached to the choir stalls stands as a memorial to
Charles Riley (1865-1950) and his wife Annie Ellen (d.1947). Charles Riley
sang in the church choir for 75 years.
South Aisle
22 Hill family
A marble memorial, white on a grey background, commemorates Thomas Hill
(1737-1814), his nephew Joseph Salthouse (1754-1817) and Joseph’s daughter
Elleanor Salthouse (1800-22).
23 A brass
plaque commemorates John Williamson Curtin (1833-1908) who was Master of the
Bluecoat School.
24  John
Rickards (1669-1703). This is quite a decorative marble memorial, with a significant
amount of gilding and surmounted by the coloured coat of arms of John Rickards.
25 A relatively
small marble memorial, though decorated with his coat of arms, to Francis
Braithwaite (1764-1813), his wife Ann (1759-1802) and four of their children
who died in infancy. Francis Braithwaite was a hosier in Nottingham and churchwarden
of St Peter’s.
26  Rickards
and Trigge families
A striking marble monument with intricate lettering, as though on a hanging
banner. It is dedicated to Benjamin Rickards (1639-75) and Thomas Trigge
(1654-1705); husbands of Elizabeth (née Parker; d. 1720).
27  A
fairly small, though elegantly designed, marble memorial to John Nodes (c.1709-89)
and his wife Judith (1714-92).
28 Spalding family
A dark grey marble oval with gold lettering commemorating John Tricks
Spalding (1844-1924) and his sons William Arthur (1872-1963) and Edward
Harold (1873-1955). John Tricks Spalding was Mayor of Nottingham and churchwarden
of St Thomas’ Church.
Edward Harold Spalding served as High Sherriff of Nottinghamshire in 1951.
29 Burden family
On the south wall, just fitting between two windows, is a marble memorial,
white in a black surround, to Mary Burden (née Nevill; 1708-76),
her husband Alexander (1711-36) and their son Alexander (1736-53).
30 Sherbrooke family
A marble memorial to John Sherbrooke (1675-1760) and other members of his
family. The placing of this memorial over the south door now makes it difficult
to view because of the modern internal porch.
31 A marble
oval within dark grey and white pillared surround commemorates the Rev John
Gregory (d.1783). John Gregory was Rector of Norwell in
Nottinghamshire.
32A small
brass plate affixed to the panelling near the font is a memorial to Mary Elizabeth
Gowthorpe (d.1934). The work at this time at the west end of the church, including
the porch ceiling and the removal of the font,
was paid for in her memory by her brother.
33 At
the west end of the north wall of the south aisle is a small hatchment (approx 2'
square) to William Cressy (d.1645). It is painted on wood, principally in black
and gold.
West End of Nave
34A 20th Century
marble plaque to James Forman (1856-1931), churchwarden from 1914-1931.
35Henry
Sanders (1815-1851) - a fairly simple white marble monument with clear lettering.
North Aisle
36  Launder
family
A marble monument consisting of a fairly simple plaque surmounted by an
urn decorated in gold and blue, all on a black surround. It commemorates
Philip and Ursula Launder, their son Philip who died in infancy, and another
son Philip Watson Launder, described as “Leiutenant” [sic] in
the Royal Navy and who died in 1798 in the Battle of the Nile.
37 A more modern style
marble plaque commemorating 2nd Lieut. Cecil
Davey Cooper (1889-1918).
This was originally erected in St James’ Church, and moved
to St Peter’s in 1933 when
St James’ closed and the parishes merged.
38  Charlotte
Elizabeth, Lady Gardner (1784-1811), daughter of Robert Smith, 1st Lord Carrington
and wife of Admiral Alan Hyde Gardner. An elaborately carved marble memorial
by John Bacon, Junior, depicting a grieving widower weeping over a portrait
of his wife while cradling his daughter, and with his young son clasping
his knees. This is perhaps the most significant of the 19th Century
monuments in the church.
The monument being over the door, and now the modern interior porch, it
really needs to be viewed from amongst the pews.
39  A
large bronze panel by Sir George Frampton, RA commemorates the Rev Lawrence
Wilkins (1861-1902), Vicar of St James’ Church. It was moved to
St Peter’s in 1933.
41 A marble
plaque surmounted by a gold wreath commemorates members of the Sykes family:
Robert Sykes (1747-1821), his sister Jane Wainman (1752-1836), his 2nd wife
Catherine (1762-1838), and their infant grandson Richard Sykes Dufty (d.1823).
Originally erected in St James’ Church.
42  An
oval white marble plaque on a black surround commemorates the Rev John
Burnett Stuart (1775-1847), first Vicar of St James’ Church, Nottingham.
(St James’ is of course “this church” named on the
memorial.)
Like the other memorials from St James’ Church this was moved to
St Peter’s in 1933 when the parishes
were amalgamated on the closure of St James’.
 North
aisle floor,
showing a
number of brass
floor plaques |
In addition to the wall monyments listed above (and the War Memorials) St Peter’s
has a number of brass plaques set into the floor, the largest number being
in the north aisle. The Monuments booklet lists
32 of these.
There are also a number of floor stones. Most of these are now difficult to
read, some are broken, and some have had other things fixed on top of them.
Some of them may have been outdoor grave stones before being used for flooring
the church.
| 
North
aisle floor,
