CH29. Brass relief of a man in armour beneath two heraldic shields
The memorial does not any longer have an inscription on it, but the inscription has been recorded as follows: Here lieth HENRY STANLEY, Esquire, son of THOMAS, late Erle of Derby, and of ANNE, Countess of Derby, brother to EDWARD, Erle of Derby, which HENRY deceased 29 day of June AD 1528.
The brass by the altar rail in the Chancel shows a man in a suit of armour with chains around his neck. It is in memory of Henry Stanley who died in 1528. Henry’s father was the second Earl of Derby. The Earls of Derby were and have been ever since one of the prominent wealthy landowning families in England. Henry is the great grandson of John & Jane L’Estrange whose brass is opposite the cafe area in church.
Henry died at the Manor House of Colham, although this was probably not the family’s main residence This house once stood at Patcott field which was about one mile north of the bridge at Longford which crossed the River Colne.
The brass was originally on the floor of the chancel and in 1893 the 13th Earl of Derby paid for it to be moved.
And finally, here is a bit of trivia for you. In the 18th century, the 12th Earl of Derby and Sir Charles Bunbury (the president of the Jockey Club) decided to hold a horse race. They spun a coin as to whether the race should be called the Derby Stakes or the Bunbury Stakes. The Earl won!
Christine Bartlett