Church Monuments Society

Funeral monuments were often moved, or removed entirely, from within the churches in which they were first erected. Occasionally, we find one for which the prospect of eternal rest was a forlorn hope. One such is the Blount monument in Portsmouth cathedral, which is today to be found on the south wall of the north transept (Fig 1). However, it is not in its original place; it has had quite a peripatetic journey, from when first installed to its present place.

Sir Charles Blount was a younger son of Sir Michael Blount, a family of Oxfordshire well-connected landed gentry that came over with William the Conqueror, remaining loyal to the Crown down the ages. He was born in c.1568 in the latter part of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, coming of age at a time when, from 1585, England was almost constantly at war with countries holding to the Catholic faith, especially the Spanish. It is clear from the details given on his epitaph that Blount saw considerable military action, serving under some of the leading figures of the age, including Robert Dudley (earl of Leicester) and Robert Devereux (earl of Essex). His final campaign was in southern Ireland, fighting Irish rebels. It seems he may have fallen seriously ill, and was sent back to England, but died on the voyage home.

The composition of this monument, with an effigy kneeling in prayer on top, is unusual, so much so that it is highly probable that this is not its original form. The earliest record of it, featuring in a sketch made in 1818, shows it as part of a group of monuments placed in a reredos against the east wall of the church (Fig 2); alongside the memorial to the Duke of Buckingham (assassinated in Portsmouth 23 August 1628).

This group of settings was taken down in 1843, with the three monuments dispersed around the church, the Blount monument moved to the south transept, having been repaired and repainted. However, in late 1938, as part of the extensive building work to create a cathedral from the parish church, it was determined that the memorial be moved again. In October 1938 it was examined by the art historian Professor EW Tristram, who advised on its conservation, repair and re-colouring. He saw it again in mid 1939, by which time it had been taken down and was in pieces. It is likely that soon thereafter it was placed where we see it today in the north tower transept. It was not until 1968 that it was finally repainted – by Inger Norholt.

It is improbable that the monument we see today represents its original form. There are some obvious pieces missing – most notably there are no references to the Blount armorial bearings, which are vividly displayed on his father’s and grandfather’s monument in the Tower of London (Fig 4).

It is conceivable that this setting was first erected as a much larger piece, probably against the south wall of the chancel, where likely it stood until 1642. At the beginning of the English Civil War, when Portsmouth was held by the Royalists, Parliamentary forces conducted a brief and successful siege of the town. They seriously damaged the church tower with artillery fire in an attempt to prevent its use as an observation post. In the course of the bombardment the nave was extensively damaged and it is likely that damage was also caused to the chancel, potentially damaging the Blount monument.

It is a strong possibility that this setting emerged from the workshop of Cornelius Cure, tomb maker of Southwark, London. He or his workshop had also made the Blount monument in the Tower of London (pers comm. and White 1999, 36-41).

Our reconstruction offers an idea of the original design of this setting. The heraldry is taken from the Blount monument in the Tower of London, the background and obelisks from other Cure settings, we have omitted Blount’s hands and feet, and his sword, which is thought to have been present originally. We are grateful to Dr Adam White for his comments on our reconstruction.

White, A. 1999, A Biographical Dictionary of London Tomb Sculptors c.1560-c.1660, Walpole Society, 61, 36-41.

Nicholas Riall and Jonathan Randall

Gallery

• Fig. 1: the Blount monument in its present location
• Fig. 2: A sketch taken by Madden in 1818 shows the Blount monument as part of a reredos set against the east wall of the church, to the right of the Buckingham monument.
• Fig. 3: the present appearance of the monument
• Fig. 4: Charles Blount’s father died in 1609, and was buried in the Tower of London in a sumptuous setting by Cure or his workshop. His son Charles can be seen at the back of the three weepers.
• Fig. 5: Conjectural reconstruction of the Blount monument