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NAME TYPE MATERIAL DATE William de Stockton Recumbent knight Freestone 1470

William's helmeted head is lying on a cushion supported by two, now headless, angels. He is depicted wearing a helmet, quite unusual for this period, for after about 1455 helmeted knights are rare, as indeed are bareheaded knights before 1440. This might lead one to assume that either the effigy was 'old stock' being used up, or that the sculptor may have been conservative, not wanting to move with the times. Other late manifestations are William's camail and jupon – this form of dress having gone out of fashion some fifty years earlier – and the mail shirt. Although the arms are now broken off the hands were in the attitude of prayer. The sword belt carries on the right a large dagger and on the left the sword. A battle axe rests between his legs while the feet, wearing spurs, rest on a lion with a shield round its neck bearing William's coat of arms: Gules, therein a stock of a tree Argent with branches leaved Vert This is of course a rebus on the family name. The inscription, now obliterated but recorded by Nichols in 1792, read: Hic jacet Williamus de Stockton quondam dominus de Erdburrowe et Margareta uxor ejus filia Johannis Skeffington qui Williamus obiit 1470. (Here lies William of Stockton sometime Lord of the Manor of Burrough on the Hill and Margaret his wife, daughter of John Skeffington. William died in 1470.) This inscription leads one to infer that originally William's and Margaret's effigies lay on the same tomb-chest. Margaret's effigy now lies in the north aisle some distance from that of her husband. 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.