The Parish of Cranford St Dunstan with Holy Angels

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The Aston tomb
The Aston tomb
This is the monument to Sir Roger Aston and his family. Sir Roger was Barber-Surgeon to King James I, but despite his two wives and four daughters had no heir, so the estate was sold on his death and came into the possession of the Berkeley family. The patronage of the parish of Cranford lies in the hands of a member of the Berkeley family who lives in Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire to this very day. The tomb is the work of Cornelius Cure who was also responsible for the tomb of Mary Queen of Scots in Westminster Abbey.




Transcript

The eldest of them being Margaret, was in his lifetime married to Sr Gilbert Houghton sonne & heire aparant to Sr Richard Houghton in the Covntie of Lancaster Baronet Knight the Second being Mary was also married in his lifetime to Sr Samuell Payton in the County of Kent Baronet Knight, the third being Alazabeth, since ye death of hvr Father is married to Sr Robert Wnigfield (Wingfield) in ye county of Northton Knight, the Youngest & 4th being Anne Aston, is yet unmarried after ye death of Dame Mary Stuart, mother to theise his daughters, he married Cardella Stanhope his second wife one of ye daughters of Sr John Stanhope in ye county of Darby Knight, & had issue by hir on sonne onely who died an infant.
The tomb of Lady Elizabeth Berkeley; great granddaughter of Mary Boleyn and great great niece of Queen Anne Boleyn

The monument to the right of the Altar is the tomb of Lady Elizabeth Berkeley who was instumental in the rebuilding of the nave following a fire in the early 18th century. Documents exist that tell us that the tomb was constructed in Italy and shipped in sections to be put together here. The shields were made in Rome. The representation of Lady Elizabeth was carved by the famous English sculptor Nicholas Stone who was a friend of the even more famous Bellini. Stone was the craftsman for the monument of John Donne in St Paul's Cathedral which was the one image that survived the destruction of the old Cathedral in 1666 as well as the Watergate in the Embankment Gardens near Charing Cross Station. It is possible that Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" was first performed in honour of Lady Elizabeth's wedding. Most of Stone's images were carved in the round (as at St Paul's) but his Cranford work is very rare in that it is carved in deep relief.

Transcript

Here lieth the body of the most virtvous and prvdent lady Elizabeth Lady Berkeley widdowe, davghter and sole heire of George Carey Lord Hvnsdon, sonne and heire of Henry Carey Lord Hvnsdon sonne & heire of William Carey, and of the Lady Mary his wife, second daughter & coheire of Thomas Bvllen Earle of Ormond and Wilshire, father also of Qveene Anne Bvllen wife to Kinge Henry the Eighth, mother of Queene Elizabeth late Qveene of England: which Lady Berkeley after her piovs pilgrimage of 59 yeares, surrendred her sovle into the hands of her redeemer, the 23th day of Aprill Anno Domini 1633.

The tomb before the Altar rails were moved.
The tomb before the Altar rails were moved.

Transcript

Here lyeth the body of George Earl of Berkeley. Viscount Dursley. Baron of Berkeley, Moubray, Seagrave & Bruce. Who had the Honour to be a Privy Consellor to King Charles the second, & to King James. Eminent for his affability, charity & generosity. He married Elizabeth one of the co-heiresses of John Massingberd Esq. of the family of the Massingberds in Lincolnshire. He departed this life the 14th Octo. 1698 Aeta: 71. In hopes of a Blessed Resurrection; For the Mercifull shall obtain Mercy.
George, Earl of Berkeley
George, Earl of Berkeley

Thomas Fuller, former Rector and noted church historian
Thomas Fuller, former Rector and noted church historian

William Smythe
William Smythe

Charles Scarburgh
Charles Scarburgh

Transcript

Hic iacet
Carolus Scarbvrgh
Eques Auratus
Medicinae Doctor
Serenissimo Regi Carolo
Nec non
Iacobo Secundo
Ac etiam
Reginae Maria
Daniae Principibusa &
ARCHIATROS.
ANGLORVM
Inter Medicos HIPPOCRATES
Inter Mathematicos EVCLIDES
Suauissimis Moribus Indutus
Omnibus Affabilis
Cunctis Vitae Officijs Aequabilis
Ciuis, Maritus, Pater, Amicus
OPTIMVS

To whose Pious Memory This Marble Monumentis Sett up & Dedicated by  the Lady Scarburgh to Sr Charles Scarburgh who by no Violent Distemper but by a Gentle and Easy Decay Departed this Life in the Seventy Ninth Year of his Age Feb 26 1693


Charles Scarburgh attended Charles II on his deathbed. He was an acquaintance of Samuel Pepys and is mentioned in the famous diary.

George, Lord Berkeley
George, Lord Berkeley

Transcript

Here lyeth ye dody of George Ld Berkeley, Baron of Berkeley, Mowbray, Seagrave & Brvce, & Kt of ye Bath, who dep'ced this ye 10th day of Aug. A.D. 1658. He married Elizabeth second daughter & coheir of Sr Michael Stanhope of Sudborne in ye County of Suffolke Kt, by whom he had issue, Charles, Elizabth & George. Charles drowned in his passage to France January 27, 1641 Elizabeth, married to Edward Coke Esq, Grandchild & Heire to Sr Edward Coke Kt, sometimes Ld chiefe Justice of both Benches. She dyed Novem: 9. A.D. 1661. & lyeth buried at Heigham in Norfolke. And George Lord Berkeley now living. This deceased Ld besides ye nobility of his birth & ye experience he acquired by forraigne trauailes, was very eminent for ye greats candor & ingenuity of his disposition, his singular Bounty & affability towards his Inferiors, and his readines (had it bin in his power) to have obliged all mankind.

Father Edward Pilcher Lewis, former Rector
Father Edward Pilcher Lewis, former Rector
Father Maurice Child, former Rector
Father Maurice Child, former Rector

 
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