Online Records

(297) WILLINGDON, St. Mary the Virgin

Flint, mostly early 14^th century - Nairn & Pevsner (629); significant bomb damage during WW2 resulted in repairs and relocations; the medieval church became an attractive commemorative site for the local lords of Ratton, the Parkers, who erected at least 9 monuments, see Horsfield (Sussex I 290), nevertheless, in 1724 their family chapel was in poor state (Ford 186); the parish had 28 families in 1724 and a population of 347 in 1801.

297A Standing monument for Sir Thomas PARKER, [d. 1663], and his grandson Sir Robert Parker, d. 1691, and others

- North aisle, attached to North wall.

- 90(W) x 295(H) x 67(D)~Very good.

- In pedestal form, in white marble, on a black base; against the wall; M.I. (engraved, black) on 3 sides; base and cornice mouldings; on front face, M.I. flanked by tasselled motif and above, a segmented pediment with escutcheon; 2 more escutcheons wall mounted to sides; on top, a huge decorative urn.

- Thomas Parker, of Ratton, (no dates); his wife, Philadelphia, daughter of Henry Lennard, Baron Dacre of Herstmonceux; his grandson, Sir Robert Parker, of Ratton, Bart., d. 30 Nov 1691, aet 36; his wife, [Sarah], only daughter of George Chute, of Bristocawsway [Brixton Causeway?], Lambeth, Surrey; issue of Robert Parker and his wife - 4 sons and 1 daughter, none named, all still living.

297B Ledger stone for John GILBERT, d. 1697

- North aisle floor.

- 90(W) x 159(L)~Fair.

- M.I. (8 lines, engraved) on upper 30% of pale grey-brown freestone slab; head to West.

- John Gilbert, d. 27 Oct 1697, aet 90; son of (another) John Gilbert. He was part of the well-known family of Gilberts in Eastbourne and Willingdon and was related to the Parker family of Ratton through his grandfather's and brother's marriages. His brother Nicholas married Ann Parker daughter of John. He left money to Ann Barnham nee Parker, daughter of Sir Thomas Parker who was widowed 35 years, who lived at Ratton and whom he referred to as 'My dear mistress'. He also left money to the poor of Willingdon.

297C Mural monument for Charlotte THOMAS, d. 1800

- North aisle (Ratton Chapel), against North wall, low.

- 71(W) x 100(H)~Very good; faded.

- M.I. (engraved, black) fills a white marble panel set portrait-wise; black frame.

- Charlotte Thomas, died at Lisbon, 17 Apr 1800, buried at Lisbon, aet 20; eldest daughter of Henry Peirse, Esq., of Bedale, Yorkshire; and wife of Inigo Thomas, Esq., of Ratton; her virtues.

297D Standing monument for Sir George PARKER, Bart., d. 1726

- North aisle (Ratton Chapel), against North wall.

- 143(W) x 298(H) x 40(D)~Very good; colour.

- All in white and grey marbles; on a moulded base and set portrait-wise, M.I. (engraved, black) with scrolls flanking and escutcheons left and right; above, a moulded cornice and pointed pediment with achievement in centre; above that, on a black base, a decorative urn with flaming top; another M.I. (5 lines, engraved, black) on plinth.

- Sir George Parker, Bart., of Ratton, MP, his loyalty to Queen Anne, d. 18 Jun 1726, aet 49, first son of Sir Robert Parker, Bart.; his wife, Mary, d. 14 May 1727, aet 51, eldest daughter of Sir Walter Bagot, Bart., of Blythfield, Staffordshire, related to Earls of Stafford and Dukes of Buckingham; issue - Walter, d. 19 Apr 1750, aet 55; Thomas; Nicholas; Sarah; Anne; Jane; and Philadelphia.

297E Standing monument for Sir Nicholas PARKER, d. 1619/20

- North aisle (Ratton) Chapel, against North wall, North-East corner.

- 227(W) x 342(H) x 39(D)~Fair; local losses.

- In alabaster; an armoured male effigy; reclining, head to West; hands in prayer; black Corinthian columns flanking; below, a tomb-chest; in relief, 3 wives kneeling to East flanked by foliate decoration and blank black panels; above, a straight entablature with 3 escutcheons and 2 rosettes; on the back wall, 2 M.I.s (engraved, white) on slate panels, flank a winged hourglass; flat coffered vault; on top, obelisks, left and right.

- Sir Nicholas Parker, Knt., of Ratton, Willingdon, d. 9 Mar 1619/20, aet 73; his first wife, Joan, daughter of Sir William Courtney, Knt., of Powderham, Devon; no issue; his second wife, Elizabeth, daughter of John Baker, Esq.; no issue; his third wife, Katherine, daughter of John Temple, Esq., of Stow, Buckinghamshire; issue - Thomas John, Robert, Nicholas, Henry, Anne and Mary; laudatory epitaph of Parker name and achievements.

297F Mural monument for Elinor PARKER, d. 1598/9

- North aisle (Ratton Chapel), East wall.

- 79(W) x 110(H)~Good; colour; local losses (hands).

- Very flat against the wall in alabaster and brown freestone; in the centre, a tiny female figure in black civil costume with widow's hood, in relief, on cushion, kneeling to right; around her, decorated frame of rosettes, skulls, hour-glasses; lozenge of arms above centre; below, M.I. (engraved, black) on an irregular panel with curved lower edge.

- Elinor Parker, d. 26 Feb 1598/9, aet 83; daughter of William Waller, of Groombridge, Esq.; and widow (20 years) and wife (52 years) of Thomas Parker, Esq., of Ratton; issue - daughter (died an infant), Nicholas and John, both knights; her wifely virtues.

297G Ledger for George PARKER, d. 1673

- North aisle (Ratton Chapel) floor, near altar, now carpeted over.

- 109(W) x 208(L)~Very good.

- Escutcheon, then M.I. (engraved) on a black marble slab; head to West.

297H Three floor-mounted brasses for John PARKER, d. 1558

- North aisle (Ratton Chapel) floor.

- Slab: 118(W) x 176(L); Brasses - Figure: 50(H), M.I.: 29(W) x 12(H) and Arms: 21(H)~Fine.

- Brasses set on large slab of (Horsham?) stone; head to West; male armoured figure, hands in prayer; female figure lost; M.I. (4 lines, engraved); escutcheon of arms.

- John Parker, Esq., d. 5 Oct 1558; his wife, Joanna, d. 6 Nov 1517.

297I Floor-mounted brasses for Thomas PARKER, d. 1580

- North aisle (Ratton Chapel) floor.

- Slab: 135(W); Brasses: (i) 17(H) and (ii) 10(W) x 49(H)~Fine

- (1) Escutcheon; (2) M.I. in English

- Thomas Parker, of Ratton, d. 16 Apr 1580; his wife, Elinor; daughter of William Waller, of Groombridge, Esq.; issue - Nicholas, another son, and one daughter.

297J Standing monument for Nathaniel TRAYTON, d. 1757, and his wife Philadelphia, d. 1755

- North aisle (Ratton Chapel), South-East corner, against South wall.

- 167(W) x 288(H) x 25(D)~Very good; colour; local losses (pediment).

- In grey-veined marble against the wall; M.I. (engraved, black) set portrait-wise; arched top, moulded, angled frame and brown marble border; above, 2 fluted, scrolled corbels support a part entablature with broken pointed pediment; at the top, an escutcheon; below, a deep mottled base.

- Nathaniel Trayton, Esq., late of Ratton, d. 26 Mar 1757, aged 57; his wife, Philadelphia, d. 11 Nov 1755, aet 52; daughter of Sir George Parker, Bart., of Ratton; his brother, Edward Trayton, Esq., of Lewes.

297K Ledger for Ann BARNHAM, d. 1704

- North aisle (Ratton chapel), South wall, above 297J.

- Inaccessible~Very good.

- M.I. (engraved, black) fills a very shallow moulded panel set portrait-wise; ogival top with urn, garlands and achievement; below, apron with ferns, lozenge of arms and simple corbel.

- Ann Barham, d. at Isleworth, Middlesex, 16 Apr 1704, aet 69; sixth daughter of Sir Thomas Parker, Knt, of Ratton; her first husband, John Shirley, Esq., of Isfield; her second husband, Francis Barnham, son of Sir Robert Barnham, Knt., of Boughton, Kent; also her nephew, Richard Parker.

297L Grave marker for Anne BARNHAM, d. 1704

- North aisle (Ratton chapel) floor, carpeted, in part obscured by altar.

- 92(W) x 106(L)~Very worn.

- M.I. (3 lines, engraved) in freestone slab; head to West.

297M Mural monument for Sir George THOMAS, d. 1774

- North aisle (Ratton Chapel), South wall, very high.

- c.100(W) x c.200(H)~Very good.

- M.I. (engraved, black) fills an unframed rectangular panel set portrait-wise; escutcheons top and bottom; 2 small black scrolled corbels.

- Sir George Thomas, Bart., of Yapton and of Ratton, Governor of Leeward Islands, West Indies, d. 31 Dec 1774, aet 79; his youngest daughter Margaret, d. 1 Sep 1797, aet 51; her husband, Arthur Freeman, Esq., of Antigua, d. 30 Jan 1780, aet 56; Margaret's Christian virtues.

297N Ledger for members of the THOMAS family, d. 1814, etc.

- Chancel floor, against the North wall, partly obscured by furnishings.

- 81(W) x 178(L)~Very good; colour lost.

- M.I. (4 lines, engraved, black) on a freestone slab; head to West.

- H[arriet] T[homas], d. 12 Nov 1828; G[eorge] P[elham] T[homas], d. 7 Sep 1828; G[eorge] T[homas] T[homas], d. 11 Nov 1827; C[harlotte] T[homas], d. 9 Nov 1814.

297O Ledger for Charlotte THOMAS, d. 1814, and other family members

- Sanctuary floor, close to North wall.

- 136(W) x 66(L)~Good; horizontal crack.

- M.I. (engraved) fills a black slab (slate?); in part, in 3 columns; set landscape-wise; head to North.

- Charlotte Thomas, d. 9 Nov 1814, aet 16, eldest daughter of Inigo and Charlotte Thomas, of Ratton; George Pelham Thomas, d. 7 Sep 1828, aet 14, third son of Inigo and Frances Ann Thomas; Harriet Thomas, d. 12 Nov 1828, aet 21, fourth daughter of Inigo and Francis Ann Thomas; their uncle, Lt. Col. George Thomas Thomas, Esq., Lt-Col, 11^th Light Dragoons, died at Ratton, 11 Nov 1827, aet 56.

297P Mural monument for Sir John PARKER, d. 1617

- Sanctuary, North wall, at head height and above.

- 120(W) x 226(H)~Good; colour restored.

- In alabaster; a kneeling armoured male figure, on cushion, facing East, within a niche; straight entablature over with rose decoration; more roses in coffering above; above, scrollwork and an escutcheon; flanking, panelled pilasters with cord and ribbonwork; plain base; in centre, M.I. (shallow engraved, gilded) fills a square black panel; apron below with grotesque mask; 2 corbels with roses.

- Sir John Parker, Knt., gentleman pensioner of Elizabeth I and James I, captain of Pendenis Castle, Cornwall, d. 15 Oct 1617, aet 69; his elder brother, Sir Nicholas Parker, Knt., of Ratton, Willingdon.

297Q Mural monument for Lady Margaret WILDEGOOSE, d. 1653

- Sanctuary, North wall.

- 114(W) x 70(H)?~Fine; local losses (pediment); faded.

- M.I. (engraved, black) set portrait-wise, fills white marble panel; plain black frame on 4 sides; flanking, white marble scrolls and garlands; above, white marble broken pointed pediment; below, skull in centre, flanked by fluted scrolled corbels.

- Lady Margaret Wildegoose, d. 16 Aug 1653, aet 61; eldest daughter of Henry Lord Dacre, Baron of Herstmonceux; and widow (44 years) of Sir Anslow Wildegoose; issue - three, all died; also her nephew George Parker, Esq., of Ratton.

297R Cartouche monument for Dame Katherine NUTT, d. 1700

- Sanctuary, North wall, above head height.

- 108(W) x 160(H)~Good; colour.

- M.I. (engraved, black) in upper 80% of a white marble convex oval panel with moulded edge; cherubim left and right, their wings crossing the panel frame; below, decorative foliage; at foot, an escutcheon with a Baroque frame.

- Dame Katherine Nutt, d. 2 May 1700; daughter of Sir Thomas Parker, of Ratton; and widow of Sir Thomas Nutt, of Mays, Sussex; issue - Leonard (died); Philadelphia, wife of Sir Thomas Dyke, of Horeham, Sussex; and Katherine, wife of Anthony Bramston, Esq., of Screens, Roxwell, Essex.

297S Cartouche monument for William PARKER, d. 1727

- Sanctuary, North wall, above head height, alongside 297R.

- 86(W) x 150(H)~Excellent.

- In white marble, M.I. (engraved, black) fills cartouche in form of a drape and set portrait-wise; a rich frame of 4 cherubim, decorative textile and flowers; above, achievement.

- William Parker, armiger, d. 1 Jan 1727, aet 48, of Lincoln's Inn; son of Robert Parker of Ratton; erected by his heirs.