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NAME TYPE MATERIAL DATE George and Frances Shirley Kneeling knight and lady Alabaster by Garrett and Jasper Hollemans 1598:1595: Erected in 1598

Built by Garret and Jasper Hollemans, two Dutchmen who were established at Burton on Trent by 1584, this two-tier monument runs almost to the full height of the north wall. At the foot, behind columns, lies a gisant on an empty alabaster coffin.     Above, under two arches, are the five members of the family. In the front arch are the kneeling effigies of Sir George, dressed in short armour, and his two sons, Thomas and Henry. In the second arch Lady Frances is depicted in flowing robes. Her hair is in three rows of curls, over which she has a cap ornamented with pearls. Round her neck she wears a ruff and a chain. Behind her kneels her daughter Mary while by her side, in cradles, are their two sons, John and George, who both died in infancy. One of these infants was originally at the east end of the tomb in front of his father. The east end has the inscription: Anno Domini 1598 (the date the monument was constructed). The main inscription, in two parts reads: Franciscae ex illustri et avita dominorum de Berkley Familia oriundae filiae honorandissimi Henrici Baronis de Berkley ex uxore Catharina sorore Thomae Howard, Ducis Norfolciae, Georgii Shirley, de Stanton, armigeri, charissimae conjugi; cui filios quatuor, quorum duo e cunis in coelestem patriam evocati, et filiam unicam peperit: Foeminae summae castitatis, modestiae, integritatis, fidei in Deum, amoris in maritum, caeterarumque virtutum tali familia dignarum laude, irnnatissimae; quae pie et placide hac mortali vita in puerperio defuncta, in immortalium coetum adscita, 29 Decemb. Anno Salutis MDXCV, aetatis suae 31, Tristissimum sui desiderium marito et liberis reliquit. Georgius Shirley lugens moerensque posuit sibique proposuit, ut cui vivus thalamo in spem prolis, illi mortuus tumulo in spem resurrectionis uniatur. Te thalamo rapuit mors inopina meo, Me tumulo reddet mors aliquando tuo. (To Frances, born of the illustrious and ancient family of Berkley, daughter of the most honoured Henry, Baron of Berkley by his wife Catherine, sister of Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk, most dear wife of George Shirley of Stanton, knight; to whom she bore four sons, of whom two were summoned from their cradles to their heavenly homeland, and one daughter; a woman of the great chastity, modesty, integrity, faith in God, love for her husband, and most natural in the praise of the rest of the virtues worthy of such a family; who having piously and placidly departed from this mortal life in childbirth was admitted to the assembly of the immortals on 29 December in the year of Salvation 1595, aged 31. She left behind a most sad longing for her in her husband and children. George Shirley mourning and grieving set [up the monument] and resolved that to whom living he had been united on the wedding bed in the hope of offspring, to her dead he should be united in the tomb in the hope of resurrection. Unexpected death seized you from my wedding bed, sometime death will return me to your tomb.) Over all two putti lean on the two sides of a swan neck pediment between which is an achievement of arms: Qly. 1. Shirley 2. Waldsheafe 3. Milo Earl of Hereford 4. Braose 5. Basset of Braylesford 6. Braylesford 7. Twyford 8. Staunton 9. Lovett. On each side of this achievement are the arms of Shirley. Beneath the arms are two cherubs and a bunch of fruit. On the frieze over the figures are eight sets of arms: Shirley impaling Waldsheafe Shirley impaling Basset of Drayton Shirley impaling Braose. Shirley impaling Basset of Braylesford. Shirley impaling Staunton. Shirley impaling Willoughby (Or, two bars gules three water-bougets argent). Shirley impaling Waldsheaf. Shirley impaling Gifford. At the top of each end are the arms: Shirley impaling Berkeley (Gules, a chevron between ten crosses partè or) under which is a large blank shield. On the east end are Shirley impaling Lovett and Shirley impaling Berkeley. At the west end are two coats of Shirley single. Sepulchral Effigies of Leicestershire and Rutland Text copyright Max Matthews 2002. Selected text copyright Bob Trubshaw 2025–6. Images copyright Max Matthews 2002 or Bob Trubshaw 2002, 2025–6. No copying or reproduction without prior written permission. Published by Heart of Albion Press Back to top of this page This website does not gather or store any visitor information.