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NAME TYPE MATERIAL DATE William and Jane Skipwith Recumbent knight and lady Alabaster 1610:1630: Erected in 1631

Depicted in a beard and curly hair Sir William, whose head is resting on a rolled up mattress, is wearing armour and trunk hose (which still retains some of its original red colour). A sword is by his side while his turnpike crest, carved out of wood, is at his feet. Jane, William's second wife, whose head is on a cushion, is wearing a hood falling back, double falling ruffles and a mantle. The two effigies, she a little below and in front of him, lie under a coffered arch on columns with no less than twenty-two cherub's heads in the coffering. On either side of the top inscription plaque are two trophies. The eastern one, illustrating husbandry, is the 'Book of Life' behind which are crossed spade, arrow, pick, sword and scythe. The western one, which illustrates 'Death', is a skull, hourglass and scythe. Above the trophies are two standing cherubs, the western one, with a foot on a stool, is holding an hourglass. In the spandrels of the arch are two sets of arms. On the left: Argent, three bars gules, a greyhound in chief sable, collared or (Skipwith) impaling, Azure, fretty argent (Cave). On the right: Skipwith impaling, Petty per pale argent and gules, a lion rampant sable (Roberts). Above the whole is a broken pediment in which there is a large achievement, topped by the crest, again made out of wood, with a sitting cherub on either side. The achievement contains the following arms: Skipwith Qly, Sable and argent, a bend or (Langton). Argent, three bars azure each charged with as many cross crosslets or (Memthorpe). Azure, three crescents argent (Thorpe). Argent, on a cross engrailed sable five mascles or (Arches). Argent, a cross engrailed gules (De la Lind) Azure, a lion rampant ermine (Werdon). Sable, three chess-rooks argent, a chief or (Ormesby). Qly. Ermine and checky or and azure (Gibthorpe). Or, on a chevron gules, between three fleurs-de-lis vert, as many mullets argent (Hiltoft). Or, fretty azure, on a canton gules a cross moline argent (Momby). Sable, a falcon sitting upon a tree trunk or (Weele). Sable, a fess between three mullets argent (Dymock). Sable, two lions passant in pale argent crowned or (Heronville). Vair, a fess gules fretty or (Marmion). Sable, a sword in pale, point towards the chief argent hilted or (Dymock). Ermine, four fusils in fess gules (Hebden). Or, a lion rampant queuy fourchy sable (Welles). Gules, a fess dauncetty between six cross crosslets crossed or (Engaine). Barry of six ermine and gules, over all three crescents sable (Waterton). The inscription, which was penned by Sir John Beaumont and is carried over three tablets, one above and the other two to the right and left, reads: To frame a man who in those guiftes excelles, Which makes the country happy where hee dwelles We first concieve what names his line adorne: It kindles Virtue to the nobly borne. This picture of true Gentry must bee grac'd With glittering jewells round about him plac'd A comely body, and a beauteous mind; A heart to love, a hand to give inclined A house as free and open as the ayre; A tonge which joyes in language sweet and faire; Yet can, when need requires, with courage bold To publike eares his neighbour's grief unfold; All these we never more shall find in one; And yet all these are clos'd within this stone. Here lyth the body of Sir William Skipwith, of Coates, knight, and Dame Jane Skipwith, his last wife being the daughter and heire of John Robertes, of Wollestone, in the county of North amptonshire, esq. He departed this life In the yeare of Our Lord 1610, and shee lived twenty years after him at whose cost and charges this monument was erected, ano 1631. His first wife was Margaret Cave, the daughter of Roger Cave of Stanford, in Leicestershire, esquire. By whom he had foure sons and foure daughters the eldest whereof is Sr Henry Skipwith, knight and baronette. 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.