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Sepulchral Effigies of Leicestershire and Rutland only
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Glenfield: St Peter

NAME

TYPE

MATERIAL

DATE

?Joan Fullerhurst

Recumbent lady

Alabaster

14th century

Moved to the present 19th century church in 1952, this effigy is believed to represent Joan, the daughter of Baldwin Fitz-Pieres and wife of Thomas Fullerhurst, who was Lord of Glenfield towards the end of the 14th century. The effigy is very much defaced and has the head resting on two tasselled pillows supported by two, now headless, angels. Depicted wearing a veil, long gown and a cross depending from a long chain, the effigy's arms are now broken off.

In 1622 it was reported that there was an alabaster tomb on two of the sides of which were the arms of Fullerhurst (Gules, fretty or, a chief ermine). The tomb had decayed by 1790. In the vestry there is a fragment of a slab with three angels under canopies holding before their breasts blank shields, upon which arms would have been painted. This may have been part of the original tomb chest.

There is a legend in the village that one day Joan lost her way in the fog and was guided home by the sound of the church bell. In thanks for this she gave the church a piece of land that became known as Clerk's Piece.


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


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