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Find
The Lady
By
Arthur Wright
2002
©2002
Hubmaker
For reference only - Reproduction by any means strictly
prohibited
Rufford
is famous for the ghost of the "Grey Lady" however
there is ANOTHER lady, long dead, but of interest to me
in Rufford's History.
In
Rufford Church is a 16th century Monumental Brass to the
memory of Sir Robert Hesketh Died 1539. This brass was
discovered languishing in the Hesketh Estate Office about
a century ago, from the inscription plate [presumably
found at the same time & now mounted in the Parish
Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Rufford with Holmeswood,]
Originally
this monumental brass almost certainly included an additional
contemporaneous figure of Dame Elizabeth, Sir Robert's
Wife.
Sir
Robert, It seems, in common with his master King Henry
VIII, Again lost his wife, unhappily for both him, and
also for our local Archaeology and History, in her brass
form only, at least a hundred years ago.
According
to the visiting Edwardian Local Historian Rev.
W. Bulpit, Our "Local Hero" Sir Robert Hesketh
served Henry VIII well in France, presumably at the "Battle
of the Spurs" in 1513, and for his "valoure,
forwardness, actyvytie, and good service, and theare was
knighted by the king's own hand, with great countenance
and many good woordes." [Though he may additionally
have been present at the "Field of the Cloth of Gold"
1520, also in France]
While
Sir Robert was in France, most Lancashire men were also
busy in Scotland at the "Battle of Flodden"
also fought in 1513.
As
the remaining surviving male figure in Brass commemorating
the said Sir Robert bears a considerable resemblance to
a similar figure of a knight [Sir Ralph Assheton, also
known as "The Black Lad" from his black armour]
from Middleton Church, Lancashire, so much so that the
same artistic hand or at least the same studio, seems
very possibly to have created it, From this resemblance
it might reasonably be inferred that the surviving female
figure from the Middleton brass is quite likely to be
very similar to Rufford's [presumed missing] "Dame
Elizabeth" figure.
How
the brass and it's inscription came to be in the Hesketh
Estate Office
is a matter for conjecture, however the original church
in which they featured burned down and was replaced by
the present one, it is easy to imagine the chaos that
must have then ensued and may have thus been responsible,
failing a "Reformation" or the perhaps the "Civil
War".
Find
The Lady? Does she still exist, Is she in someone's attic,
Beneath a bed in Rufford? Only worth looking in pre-1908
attics or if there is a lot of dust under that old bed!!
[So Wimpey house owners don't bother!]
Did
your Grandad work for the Hesketh family?, Was he a "Scrap
Merchant" When did they last clean behind that cupboard?
Certainly it is possible she still exists, Perhaps she
should be recreated from the image of her contemporary
at Middleton, re-united with Sir Robert in brass, what
do you think?.
Arthur
Wright
9th December 2002
arthur.wright@ruffordvillage.com
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