Home Introduction to effigies Places A–Z People A–Z Artists A–Z Heraldry Symbolism Materials Sepulchral Effigies of Leicestershire and Rutland only WWW

NAME TYPE MATERIAL DATE Baptist and Elizabeth Noel Standing Classical Marble by Grinling Gibbons 1682:1683:1686

On the east wall of the north transept this twenty-two feet high monument by Grinling Gibbons, which cost £1,000, is an early example of the classical dress that superseded contemporary costume on monuments. The creation must hold the record for the largest number of figures on one monument, there being twenty-five in all. A pedestal supporting an urn separates the larger-than-life figures of Noel and his fourth wife Elizabeth. On either side, standing on black balls, are two giant obelisks each supporting a black marble vase twisted about with festoons of white.   Surmounted by the arms, Argent, on a fess azure three lozenges or (Fielding), the left hand oval relief represents the three sons of Baptist's first wife Anne who all died in their infancy. Anne, the daughter of William Fielding, Earl of Denbigh, died in 1636 and was buried at Campden where there is a monument to her memory. On the occasion of the marriage, on Christmas Day 1632, King Charles gave the couple a wedding present of £3,000, £2,500 of which Noel promptly lost in one day at tennis. The other oval relief, surmounted by the arms, Argent, three wolves passant sable (Lovett), represents the stillborn child of Baptist's second wife. Also called Anne, she was the daughter of Robert Lovett of Liscombe, Bucks and widow of Edward Bourchier, Earl of Bath. One of the elongated ovals represents the four daughters of the third wife, Hester, Noel's third wife, and her four daughters. Hester, the third daughter of Thomas, Lord Wotton, died in 1649 and was buried at Exton. The other oval represents the children of Elizabeth, Baptist's fourth wife, who died in 1683 and was also buried at Exton. Her children were: Lindsey, Catherine (who married John Manners, 9th Earl of Rutland), Baptist, John, Bridget, James and Martha. The monument is topped by the Noel arms (Or, fretty gules, a canton ermine) impaling, Argent, three wolves passant sable (Lovett). There are three inscriptions. That on the left reads: Here resteth Baptist Noel, Lord Viscount Camden, Baron of Ridlington and Allington, Lord Lieutenant of the County of Rutland. His eminent loyalty to his two sovereigns, King Charles I and II; his conjugal affection to four wives; his paternal indulgence to nineteen children; his hospitality and liberality to all that desired or deserved it (notwithstanding inestimable losses in his estate, frequent imprisionments of his person, spoil and havock of several of his houses, besides the burning of that noble pile of Campden) have justly rendered him the admiration of his contempories and the imitation of posterity. He left this life for the exchange and fuition of a better the 29. day of October in the LXXI year of his age A.D. MDCLXXXIII. The right inscription reads: He took to his first wife Ann Fielding 2d daughter to William Earl of Denbigh, by whom he had three children, who dyed in their infancy. By his second wife, Ann Countess of Bath, he had one son still born. By his third wife, Hester, one of the four daughters of and coheir of Thomas Lord Wootton, he had two sons and four daughters. 1st Edward, present Earl of Gainsborough, Governor of Ports mouth, Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire and Rutland; 2nd Henry Noel late of North Luffenham who dyed in the 35th year of his age; 3rd Mary, present Countess of Northampton; 4th Juliana, wife of William Lord Allington; 5th Hester who dyed an infant; 6th Elizabeth wife of Charles Lord Duresly, son and heir apparent of George Earl of Barkley. By his fourth wife (who standeth by his side) Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Mountagu, Earl of Lindsey, Lord Great Chamberlain of England, he had nine children: 1st Lindsey Noel who dyed in infancy; 2nd Catherine, now wife of John, Earl of Rutland; 3rd Baptist Noel esq, now living; 4th John Noel esq, likewise living; 5th Bridget Noel also living; 6th a son whose early birth prevented his baptism; 7th James Noel esq who died in the 18th year of his age; 8th Martha Penelope now living; 9th a son stillborn. Between the figures is the inscription: To the pious memory of her dear husband their and her own childen Elizabeth his last wife in his lifetime gave moneys and left orders for ye erection of this monument which by her 4th son John Noel was [    ]1686. Born in 1611, Baptist Noel was elected to both the Short and Long Parliaments, although because of his Royalist sympathies his stay in the latter was not long. In 1643 he was appointed brigadier of a troop of horse and company of foot in the Royalist army. Captured and imprisoned in 1645, the following year he was released on recognisance's and granted a pass to return to Rutland. On the Restoration he was made Lord Lieutenant of the county and appointed a Justice of the Peace. 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.