CH26. Elaborate memorial including a man and woman kneeling at prayer beneath an arch with figures seated above
Left panel: To / the precious memorie of / Sir EDWARD CARR, Knt; / Nephew, & heyre apparent to / Sir EDWARD CARR, Knt; / Gentleman Pensioner to James, & Charles, Kings / whose life / was a fayre copie of practik piety / a rare example of heroik worth / In whom / Arts, learning, language / made up the true complement of perfection / who leaving / an honorable name to the world / a noble lady to her teares / two hopeful children to her protection / exchanged his transitory honors / for a Crowne of Immortality / Febr: XVII In ye yeare of grace MDCXXXVI.
Right panel: Consecrated / to his honored name, by ye entyre affeccion of / Dame JANE / his dearely loveing & beloved wife / second daughter of / Sir EDWARD ONSLOW / of Knole, in ye county of Surry, Knt, by his wife / ELIZABETH / the third daughter of Sir THOMAS SHURLY / of Wisson, in ye county of Sussex, Knt / and / Sister to ye three SHURLYes of famous memory / who / by ye practice of an honorable life / here / soweing ye works of grace / hereafter / expects ye wages of eternail glory.
Centre oval panel: This / Monument was / repaired in the Year / 1775 by the Rt: Honble: / GEORGE ONSLOW / lineally descended from / that excellent Person Sir / EDWARD ONSLOW / herein mention’d.
Crinkly Boots and a Lady without a nose!
The elaborate 17th century memorial to the right of the High Altar is in memory of Sir Edward Carr who died in 1636. Sir Edward was granted the lease of the Rectory estate and he rebuilt the house on the site, (where Bishopshalt School now stands). Sir Edward was a Justice of the Peace. On one occasion, a riot broke out between the people of the town and the officers of Lady Derby, Lady of the Manor, concerning the ownership of market tolls. Sir Edward rushed down to the town to try and restore order, whether he did or not, I can’t tell you.
The memorial has alabaster figures of Sir Edward and his wife, Jane (nee Onslow) facing each other at a little prayer desk and their two daughters Philadelphia and Jane in front of them facing forwards. The crests of the Carr and Onslow families are shown – a white hart for Sir Edward, an eagle for Dame Jane. For me, what really makes this memorial special are their outfits and hairstyles. Edward with his baggy trousers and crinkly boots; Jane with her puffy sleeves and her hair in ringlets. At the top of the memorial are 2 figures, one is Justice holding her scales (reminding us of Sir Edward’s role as a JP ) and another figure snuffing out a long torch, indicating that the couple had no sons to carry on the Carr name.
Sir Edward had an uncle also named Edward Carr. They both lived at The Rectory House and both were Members of Parliament. There is quite a lot written about both of them on the website “History of Parliament Online” although due to them both having the same name, there is quite a bit of confusion about who did what!
Sadly, when a bomb fell in the churchyard in 1940, Dame Jane’s nose fell off and was lost. Daughter Jane’s head also broke off, but has been glued back in place!
Christine Bartlett