BRISTOL
With Bristol I depart from Pevsner's organization which included Bristol in one of his Somerset volumes. Local government and boundary changes are not the most thrilling of subjects so here I will just say that Bristol used to be 'in' both Somerset and Gloucestershire until 1974 when it became part of the new county of Avon which also included bits from adjacent counties. In 1996 Avon was abolished, some bits were shed and Bristol became a county in its own right as well as a city. In fact Bristol was once before a county for a while: it was granted that status by King Edward III in 1375. It will probably change again in the future but here it stays in these pages.
Bristol came as a big and very pleasant surprise to me. I lived and worked in Devon for many years yet  never visited Bristol because, being born near Liverpool, I assumed that the two cities were very similar, which in some ways they are. Liverpool is not a fruitful place to find church monuments so I assumed that Bristol would be more or less the same in this respect also.  Wrong: Bristol has two large medieval churches - the Cathedral and St Mary Redcliffe, which house many fine monuments, as well as St Mark's Chapel which is virtually a mortuary chapel.  And then there are a large number of parish (or formerly) churches which themselves contain quite a number.
 
 All Saints, Corn Street   Bristol Cathedral   Christ Church, Broad Street   Holy Trinity, Lawrence Hill  St James's Priory, Whitson Street   St John the Baptist, Tower Lane   St Mark's or Lord Mayor's Chapel   
 St Mary Redcliffe  St. Michael, St Michael's Hill   St Nicholas, High Street    St Paul, Portland Square   St Phillip & St Jacob, Narrow Plain   St Stephen's, St Stephen's Avenue   St Thomas, Thomas Lane 
 
 
The Cathedral
Cathedral Church of the Holy & Undivided Trinity
(originally Abbey of St Augustine)
(no entrance fee; no charge for photography but contributions always welcome please!)
(A very friendly cathedral but easy to set off alarms!)
Note: Bristol Cathedral is a Cathedral of the New Foundation, that is, one of the several cathedrals that was founded - or refounded - by Henry VIII at the time of the Reformation. Before then the church was not a cathedral at all (so not the seat of a bishop) but rather an Augustinian Abbey, that is, a monastery of Canons Regular - priests who lived under the rule of St Augustine and who were presided over by an Abbot. The see was founded in 1542: a bishop was installed (see below) and the cathedral itself administered by a Dean and Chapter of  Secular Canons - priests not living under a monastic rule - which is more or less the situation today. This explains some of the monuments found both here and at Wells. I surveyed the monuments Bristol as part of Dr Clive Easter's symposium in the city.
Cloisters  Eastern Lady Chapel  Elder Lady Chapel   Nave and Aisles  Newton Chapel  North Chancel Aisle  North Transept  South Transept  South Chancel Aisle
 
Eastern Lady Chapel

Abbot Hunt (1481)
Abbot 1473-1481
Abbot Newberry (1473)
Abbot 1428-1473
Abbot Newland (1515)
Abbot 1481-1515
North Chancel Aisle



Bishop Paul Bush (1558)

He was concecrated as the First Bishop of Bristol in 1542 but deprived by royal decree  ofMary Tudor  in 1554 for being married. He retired to the Rectory of Winterbourne, where some sources say he is buried. However most state that he and his wife were buried in the Cathedral. Cadaver effigy only.

Robert Southey (1843)
The poet; a Bristol man.
Buried Crosthwaite, Cumbria
Portrait Bust by Baily 		 Robert Codrington (1618) and his wife, Anne
Figures kneel at a prayer desk flanked by angels.
The children - Christopher, Robert, John, Florence, Nicholas and nine others - kneel similarly below		 John Campbell (1817) by Jabez Tyler William Powell (1769)
By J Paine A seated Genius holds a portrait medallion.
Several smaller wall monuments can be seen: there are many in most  parts of the Cathedral, especially the cloisters, which have not been included in this survey.
Above Left:Mary Mason (1767) Medallion with figures on sarcophagus By John Bacon

Above Right: George Forrest Browne (1833-1930)
48th Bishop 1897-1914
Bronze bust 

Left: 'William the Surveyor'
 Coffin lid (not in situ) with foliated cross and  inscription written  in Lombardic characters and in Norman French:
William the Surveyor lies here - God on his soul have mercy. Amen.
He may have been surveyor when the Elder Lady Chapel was built,  c. 1220
North Transept



Above: Major W. Gore (1814) By Tyler
Right Top: Peter Maze (1849) A Bristol Merchant 
Right Bottom: Abbot David (1216-1234)
Tomb slab with head above a cross, both carved in low relief: one of the arms of the cross can just be made out. Very worn.

Above top: Frederick John Fargus 'Hugh Conway'(1885)
Bottom: Mary Carpenter (1877) Both signed by Havard Thomas
 Left Above: Bishop Joseph Butler DCL (1752)
Elder Lady Chapel (Accessible from the North Transept)

Maurice 9th Lord Berkeley (1368) & his Mother Margaret  (1st Wife of Thomas)
This monument lies between the Elder Lady Chapel and the North Transept but is best seen from the latter. Note the armour detail. Arms are carved on the 'jupon'

South Transept

Emma Craufuird (1823)
By Sir Charles Chantry		 Bishop Dr Robert Gray (1834)
By Baily		 Joseph Lowrey (1806) George Rogers (1840)
Solicitor & for 50 years Chapter Clerk		 Laura Josephine (1839-1843) Charles Roper
(1845-185-) Laura Henrietta (1857-185-)
Malwyn  By T. Tyler, Bristol 
Newton Chapel -  (accessible from the South Transept)

Ekizabeth Charlotte Stanhope (1816)
By Westmacott		 Sir Henry Newton (1599) and his wife, Catherine. The children kneeling below are: Theodore, Elizabeth, Margaret and Anne Sir John Newton (1661) Unknown. Probably 15th century
Sir Jonathan Trelawny Bt (1721)
Sir Jonathan Trelawny was elected Bishop of Bristol and became one of Seven Bishops tried for seditious libel  under James II for protesting against the Declaration of Indulgence, which granted religious toleration to Roman Catholics. In fact, it appeared to grant religious freedom of worship to all denominations but it was felt that the King had an hidden agenda and the declaration could be changed by the King's sole authority.

The bishops declared that, while they were loyal to King James, they were protesting against the declaration on a matter of conscience. They were held for seven weeks, tried and acquitted to much rejoicing.

After James II's military defeat Sir Jonathan  was awarded the Bishopric of Exeter.

 His later appointment to Winchester was also controversial as Queen Anne, wishing to keep ecclesiastical appointments as her prerogative overruled her minister and the Archbishop of Canterbury. The promoted the 'Bishops' Crisis'.

He was buried at his birthplace Pelynt, Cornwall.

He is remembered in the song Song of the Western Men by the lines 'Shall Trelawney die'. However this is more likely to refer to his grandfather, Sir John Trelawny who was imprisoned by parliament for electoral irregularities. The Cornish never marched on behalf of whichever Trelawny it was as suggested in the song.

Bronze by Alfred Drury
South Chancel Aisle


Maurice II, Lord Berkeley (1281) Note that this effigy has straight legs and the carved heraldry on the shield. Designation is unconfirmed. 
Thomas, Lord Berkeley (1321) Note that in contrast that this effigy has crossed legs but it also has carved heraldry. He fought at the battles of Evesham and of Bannockburn. Again the designation is unconfirmed


Left: Thomas, Lord Berkeley (1321) & Joan (1309), view from the south chancel aisle, and,
above, view of the same monument from Berkeley Chapel, which is accessible from this aisle.


Right: Harriet Isabella (1826) & John Middleton  By Edward Baily

Far right top: William Brame Elwyn (1841) by Edward Baily. And below this monument,
Mary Brame Elwyn (1818)
Nave and Aisles


Left column: Dean Gilbert Elliot (1891) He was Dean 1850-91. The effigy is by James Nesfield Forsyth
The monuments of the two deans are in niches in at the east of the North & South Aisles respectively.
Right column: Dean Francis Pigou (1916) He was Dean 1891-1916, succeeding Dean Elliot. The effigy is by N A Tren
   
   
Dame Joan (1603) & Sir John Young By Samuel Baldwinn. Sir Charles Vaughan (1630) 
These two monuments monument are to the North and South of the West Door.  They were originally elsewhere but moved to the present position when the nave was completed at the end of the 19th century.
The Cloisters 
 

Elizabeth Draper
By John Bacon
(signed 'J Bacon fecit London 1780')

Eleanor Daniel (1774)

A A Henderson (1807) 

Elizabeth Gouldwhite (1793)
 

Elizabeth Cookson (1852)
 
St Mark's or The Lord Mayor's Chapel
(Opposite the Cathedral)
At the time of writing the chapel is closed to visitors to allow installation of new fire safety system; it is planned that it is to open again on 10th April 2020. However please check with the verger on this e-mail Marek.Barden@bristol.gov.uk if you are planning a visit to avoid any possible disappointment.
Visit the chapel's website - https://lordmayorschapel.org/  - for further information
St Mark's, Bristol, also known as The Lord Mayor's Chapel, is a peculiar, this is a, church not subject to the jurisdiction of the diocese jurisdiction in which it is situated. Such churches are now uncommon: they include Westminster Abbey and the Temple Church, London. St Marks was once a chapel to a hospital , a religious foundation, which was dissolved by Henry VIII;  the chapel was then sold to the City Council who still own and administer it. The hospital itself was refounded as The Queen Elizabeth's School. The relationship of the chapel with the diocese makes fascinating history.
The church is peculiar in yet another way: it is orientated north-south, rather than the in the usual east-west layout, where the altar is at the east end of the church. However for clarity (church crawlers assume the altar is at the east and do not normally consult a compass!)  the information below is written as if the church were orientated in the usual manner.

The Nave

Sir Richard Berkeley (1602)
Ward of Henry VIII, Lieutenant of Tower, High Sheriff & Deputy Lt of Gloucestershire. Alabaster.  
(S Wall - W End)		 William Birdie (1590)
Mayor of Bristol, Benefactor of Queen Elizabeth's Hospital. Note the Sword of State below the epitaph.  
(N Wall - W End) 


Thomas Harris (1797)
He was merchant and alderman of Bristol. The monument also commemorates Mercy (1819), his widow, who later married James Sutton. Below is added the aforementioned James Sutton (1824)
(N Wall)		 Top:  John Bates (1869) Local bank manager, city councillor & Mayor in 1859
Botttom:Revd John Hakesworth LLD (1866) Head Master of Queen Elizabeth's Hospital. Signed: Wood Bristol		 Top: George Adderly (1786) & his daughter  Charlotte  (1775 aged 15 ); both are buried in a vault below the monument.
Bottom: James Gibbs JP  (1855) ; he was Mayor in 1842.

The Chancel

Above left columns and centre column top:  Sir Maurice (1464) & Lady Ellen Berkeley.
Above rights columns and centre column bottom: Bishop Miles (or Milo) Salley (1516) of Landaff.  
(Both of the above monuments are on North Wall.)
South Aisle

 Above: Tomb Chest (said to be that of John Carr, Founder of Queen Elizabeth's Hospital) (N Wall)

Right:  Sir John Kerle  Haberfield Kt (1857) Six time mayor of the city.  By Tyley.

(South wall - west end)

Left and above top: William Halliard (1735) By Thomas Parry. (South  Wall)
Right and above bottom:: An unknown merchant (c 1360) but the tomb chest is 15th Century. (S Wall) See also below
Henry Bengough (1818) Alderman and founder of
almhouses which carry his name. By: Chantry (West Wall)		 John Cookin  (1627, age 11)  (South. Wall) Thomas James (1619) MP, Alderman, Sheriff of Bristol in 1591, Mayor in 1605 & 1614 (West End - North Wall)








All  of the monuments in this row are on the south wall except that of Henry Walter , which is on the north wall

'Infra Iacet' Henry Blaake (1731)  'Near this place lyeth' Henry Walter (1727) Mayor & Alderman and his wife Mary (1742) 'Beneath lyeth the body of' Catharine Vaughan (1694) and her son George (1701)  'Underneath the cross in Bedminster church are interred the remains of' Thomas Hassell (1829) Alderman JP and his wife: Rachel (1822) 'In a vault near the communion table of this chapel are deposited the several remains of '
John Casberd DD (1803)
Vicar of StAugustine's in the city and of Tickenham and Portbury
His wife Elizabeth (ob 1802) Their daughters Elizabeth Frances (1770 age 1) and Mary Ann (1774 age 9 month) . 		 'In a vault in the chancel of this church lie interred the reamains of'...
Catherine Camplin (1831)  and her husband
Thomas Camplin (1856) Alderman
St Andrew's Chapel

Left and centre top:  George Upton (1608) (N. Wall)
Right and centre bottom: Sir Baynham (1664) & Lady Throkmorton (1635) Between the couple, who hold hands,  is a baby in swaddling clothes who died with the mother. The baby is best seen below centre. (North Wall) 
William Swift (1622) (North Wall)   Elizabeth James (1599) (N orth Wall)


 
Dame Mary Baynton (1667) & Two Sons


Two Military Effigies (c. 1300)
Locally said to be of Maurice de Gaunt (1230) and Robert de Gournay (1269). the co-founders of the hospital and chapel.


John Aldworth (1615) and his son,  Francis  (1623)

John was Sheriff of Bristol and a benefactor of Queen Elizabeth's School
(North Wall)
 
St James's Priory - Whitson Street
In 1984 this C of E church became redundant but was reopened by the Little Brothers of Nazareth in 1993 as a RC monastic church.
I am unsure if this church allows 'secular' visitors or photography: check by contacting the church via their website.



       Henry Gibbes (1636) Brass plate, with kneeling figures of family, in a stone surround

Left and above: The Georgian brass records the burial in the church of Robert, Earl of Gloucester, illegitimate son of King Henry I in 1147. He was a supporter of his half sister, the 'Empress' Matilda, the legitimate daughter of Henry I and claimant to the throne, in the civil wars against King Stephen.The effigy is much later. Note the apostrophy in builder of it's castle; nothing new it seems!.
Right  Etching from T and G Hollis of the effigy.
Left: Martha Noble (1754) and her husband John Noble, Alderman.
Above: Martha (1608) & Andrew (1687) Hooke
Right: Sir Charles Somerset (1598), his wife Eme (1590) and daughter, Elizabeth (1609)
Right column top: As referred to above, this is the etching of the effigy by T & G Hollis. As the brass records the effigy was restored in 1819. Robert was known as Fitzroy
Right column bottom:  Rev Thomas Tregonna Biddulph (1842) Bust by Baily (1842)



Sir James Russel (1674) 'late of Nevis one of the first settlers of that island' He was later appointed governor Henry Digton (1673) Brewer. '...who gave five pounds ᵱ annum for ever to be beſosed on ten coates & given to ten poore men of this parish not receaving almes yearely against winter' Also Judith (1721) and her husband George Digton, eldest son of the above. Also Henry Foot (1741), their son Thomas (1689) & Eliz. Hicks (1694) son and daughter of Thomas Hicks. Also the aforementioned Thomas Hickes (1716) & Martha (1719)
   
 Joan Wood (1713); her two sons Joseph (170_) & Sam.l. (1708). Morgan Smith (1715)& his widow Eliz (1725) daughter of Joan Wood, above. Their six sons: Thomas (1698), Humphry (1698), John (1705), Sam.l. (17__) & Anthony (1718); their four daughters: Joanna (172_), Hester (1712), Mary (Cooper) (172_), Sarah (172_)  Also Cornelius Lyde (1721), Susanna 1792) wife of James Calwell, merchant; __ey (1730) wife of Nat.l. Narr___, Merchant Thomas Edwards (1727)  Mary Edwards (1736), her husband Walter (1758) and his sister Jane (___)
 
Saint Mary Redcliffe
Church normally open.  There is no charge for entry or photography
(Near Templemedes Station)

Nave - South Aisle


Top : John Lavyngton (1411) Civilian effigy: his feet reat on slab on which there can be seen an inscription. Bottom left: Grave slab with cross.  Bottom right: This is similar but the slab is missing revealing the empty coffin set below ground level.

Far Right:  Admiral Sir A William Penn  His actual tombstone is in the South Transept. He was father of William Penn, the Quaker.

Tower or St John's Chapel 

The central monument is to: Richard Sandford (1721). Other wall monuments are shown. There are many more in this location.  

South Transept


Above:  photographs of tomb and effigies of William Canynge the Younger  and his wife Maud (1460-65).  Right: etching of the effigy of William Canynge.
Below: Individual photographs of the individual effigies from the above tomb; these were taken in black and white.
William Canynge  was a wealthy Bristol merchant and a benefactor to the church. On the death of his wife he took holy orders. He has two monuments in the church: one with his wife where the effigies rest on a tomb chest with a canopy, all polychrome. The other at the bottom of this section is an alabaster effigy which show him, after the death of his wife and after he had taken holy orders, as   Dean of Westbury. This is shown below the black and white photographs.
 

   
Above:  Said to be the almoner of William Canynge. Note the purse and large dog with a big bone; unusually only a single angel.
Right: Unusual grave slab of cook; a knife can be seen of the right and there is a ladle on the left. Inscription.  Far right: Hannah Hughes (1799) Wife of  a Bristol Distiller

North Transept







Effigy said to be that of Robert de Berkeley who gave a freshwater spring to the church

North Chancel Aisle



Above: Thomas Mede  (1475) and his wife, Margaret. I was unable to satisfactorily photograph the two effigies.
Note the fragmentary brass inscription, which states:

[Here lies Thomas Mede and his wife, and Philip Mede son of] 'the aforesaid Thomas Mede and thrice mayor of the town of Bristol, died the 20th day of December 1475.' The missing section is written between the square brackets and is deduced.

Right and right above: John Mede (1496) and his wife, Alice. There are no effigies but a brass on the back wall, the inscription of which reads:

'Here lies John Mede, burgess of the town of Bristol who died1 7th April 1496 and beside him rests Alice his wife'
 

Brasses Not Recorded
Sir John Inyn (1439) Lady Chapel N Corner under carpet. 3' 6" Figure set in Purbeck Marble slab. Lead inlays.  Inscriptions in Latin and heraldry. He was Recorder of Bristol, Chief Baron of the Exchequer, Judge of the Common Pleas and later Justice of the King's Bench
John Jay (1480) & Johanna or Joan Chancel south side under carpet. 3' Figures with Canopy and Kneeling Children (6 sons, 8 daughters). Heraldry. Civilians. He was a Bristol merchant, bailiff and later sheriff.
John Brooke (1522) & Johanna  Chancel north side under carpet. 3' Figures. He was sergeant-at-law and Justice of Assize. Inscription and heraldry
The following two brasses were rescued from Bristol's Temple Church after damage following enemy bombing in 1940. Although put away for safe keeping, the disappeared after the war but rediscovered in 1965. They are now on the wall of the south ambulatory.
Civilian (c. 1396) upper part of body only. Inscription.
Priest/ Civilian Female - Pamlisest.  (c 1460) The priest wears choir vestments.  The lady's brass is unfinished.

St John the Baptist
Tower Lane

Left: Hugh Browne (1653) and his wife:  recumbent effigies on a two  tier tomb on the front of which are kneeling figures of their son and four daughters. This monument is in the church yard (Taylor's Court)
Above: Walter Frampton (1388)

Other Monuments

The following are in the crypt:

A Merchant (c 1510) and Two Wives. Incised slab on a tomb chest
A Merchant (c 1550) and his Wife alabaster effigies on a tomb chest

The following is in the body of the church:

Thomas Rowley (1478) and his Wife  brasses 1' 10"  
Andrew Innes (1723) Tablet with 2 flanking colums and angels' head. Signed by Rysbrack.

St Stephen
St Stephen's Avenue




Edmund Blanket (1370) and his Margaret (his second wife) Below are details of the weepers.
He was a wealthy clothier and is supposed to have given his name to the blanket.
Martin Pringe (1627)
 Note the mermaid and merman with death symbols and anchor
Sir George Snygge (1617)  
Alabaster ; Cartouche with allegorical figures.  By ? S Baldwin





Walter Tyddesley (or Tididstille) (1385)
He was MP for the city the year of his death.

Also - Robert  Kitchen (1594) Brass plate with kneeling figures in stone frame.
There are also many late 18th and early 19th C tablets in the church.

With thanks to Joan & Robert Tucker for providing new photogarphs of Edmund & Margaret Blanket.
The original were taken fron a book of the 1920's so  welcomed improvement

All Saints
Corn Street

Above and right: Edward Colston (1721)  Designed by Gibbs; carved by Rysbrack but signed by Sidnell (1729)
Other Monuments Not Shown:
 Sarah Colston (1701)
Mrs Tooth Blisset (1805)  By Flaxman
 Many with unusual urns
St Philip & St Jacob
Narrow Plain

Head of knight, early 14th C (S Wall of N Chapel)

Effigy of knight, upper half, c 1470 (N Chapel)

Henry Merrett (1692) Frontal 3/4 figure in oval niche. Angels in top spandrels; skulls in lower.

John Foy (1771) Obelisk with portrait medallion. Below relief of female with children. By James Pary Jnr

William Day (1832) Gothick tabernacle Designed by S C Fripp; carved by J Thomas
St Michael
St Michael's Hill

Joseph Percival (1764) Three female figures against obelisk; the middle holds a portrait medallion. Neo-Classical.

Mary Stretton (1794) Female leaning on urn. By William Paty
Christ Church
Broad Street

Thomas Holmes (1772) Seated female holds urn. By John Paty

St Thomas
Thomas Lane

Several wall monument
(no yet read)




St Paul
Portland Square

Colonel Thomas Vassal (1807)  Seated winged Victory in front of black obelisk; shield inscribed Mentevedo;  palm tress and flag. By Rossi to a design by Flaxman.
Several tablets with urns 
 
St Nicholas
High Street
The church is now the offices of Bristol & Regional Archaeological services.

John Whitson (1629)
Above is T Clark's 19th century copy of the figure which originally stood in the porch. Below is the original figure which is flanked by pilasters carrying an arch.
Also: Daniel Woodward (1755) Urn & obelisk

I was unable to find the original photographs to edit

Holy Trinity Church
of St Philip  St Jacob
Lawrence Hill
Deconsecrated. Now Trinity Community Arts Centre

 

This wall monument was moved from the church to the Police Station opposite when the church was closed and is now on public display in the entrance. Copy of inscription belowt.

The inscription reads:
In Memory of Richard Hill
Police Contable of this City
who was murdered whilst in the
execution of his duty in Gloucester Lane
24th April 1869 Aged 31 years.
And was interred in Arnos Vale Cemetery 
   

 
 
All of the photographs above were taken by the Webmaster with the exception of:-
1. St James's, Whitmore Street. Photographs Ó Julian Lee-Jones and used with permission. With thanks to the photographer and to Rob Harding for sending them to me
2. Several have also been provided by  Phil Draper of Church Crawler .  Thank Phil!
3. The older black and white photographs are from Archaelogia. Vol LXXIV, generously sent to me be the late Dr Claude Blair
4. The etchings are by T & G Hollis

I would most welcome and further photographs of monuments from Bristol churches, especiallyof those of which I do not have any, and any unsatisfactoy ones which were lost. Thanks!
 
<Top of Page>   <Home - Index - Page>