On Tuesday 25 February, thanks to our enterprising Treasurer, Michael Thompson, and at short notice (this was a pop-up event) a group of 17 CMS members assembled at Horton Church, Northamptonshire, which is currently for sale. David Carrington gave us an overview of the monuments, and members added their expertise. Photos of some of the monuments are in the galleries of photos below.

The church contains a group of stunning monuments, three at least of major importance: Lord Parr (Catherine Parr’s uncle – this might be described as a royalish tomb) †1546, by Richard Parker. There was discussion about the date of the monument: the weepers did not conform to the number of children Lord Parr was known to have, so did Parr simply adopt a tomb belonging to someone else, possibly from a closed religious establishment? The idea that this might be a pre-1546 monument may be strengthened by the rather old-fashioned female costume.

An accomplished wall-monument, retaining original colour, with a nice devout inscription, to Sir William Lane †>1580. Pevsner suggests the Hollemans atélier.

A real rarity: a monument designed by Horace Walpole and made by James Lovell in 1756 to Edward Montagu, his wife Arabella and daughter Henrietta. Note helmet detail – very Walpolesque.

There are also a great many memorials, such as this, to a member of the Gunning family who fell on the plains of Waterloo, a brass to Roger Salisbury †1491 and his two wives, some interesting grave marker & cross-slab fragments and a charming harmonium.

Horton: general views

Lord Parr

The Montagu tomb

Other memorials

The harmonium