The Brasses
1319
Size 6'4"x1'6"
1319
Size 6'9"x1'6"
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The Location |
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| The Isle of Sheppey, England is located east of London by the Thames and Medway estuaries. It is separated from the mainland by a narrow branch of sea called "The Swale," but is easily accessible by a drawbridge. Minster is toward the center and high point of the island and the Minster Abbey (officially "The Church of St Mary and St.Sexburga") sits atop this hill. According to the Hatchette Guide to Great Britain (Pantheon Books, 1988), "Minster... is named after the nunnery founded by Queen Sexburga c 673." Parts of the original abbey survived a Danish raid in 855 and were incorporated into the present building, largely reconstructed in the 12th century, and joined with the parish church in the 13th century. |
The Brasses |
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1319 Size 6'4"x1'6" |
1319 Size 6'9"x1'6" |
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I knew that Norwood ancestors came from Sheppey but would not have known
where to begin looking had it not been for a note in Hatchette's Guide
that stated that the 14th century brasses to Sir Roger1 and Lady Joan de
Northwode could be found in Minster abbey. I was excited to learn this
connecting fact but had no idea what the "brasses" were. I pictured a
small square plaque with names engraved on it. I found LIFE-SIZED flat
memorial engravings! The originals are mounted in the floor and covered
by carpet to preserve them. Two duplicates are framed under glass and
hung on the walls. A second pair of copies are mounted on thick planks
of wood and available for tourists (and relatives) who want to do crayon
rubbings, etc. The rubbings were out of the question for us. (The
pastor had seen an experienced person spend the whole day on just one
rubbing.) My husband and son were allowed to cart these brasses outside
into the sunlight for photographing. The church historian gave us some history behind the symbolism on the brasses of that period. The crossed legs as seen on Sir Roger1 meant that the person had fought in the crusades. The animals behind the feet were symbolic, too. A dog (as found behind Lady Joan's feet) meant that the person had died a peaceful, natural death. The small lion, as found behind Sir Roger's feet symbolized a violent death as in battle. According to notes taken by my Great Aunt Alice Hubbard from The History of the Isle of Sheppey from Roman Occupation to King Edward VII by Augustus A. Daly, "Sir John received his knighthood from King Edward I for his gallantry in the Siege of Caeverlock (the same as his neighbor Lord Shurland.) The date on the brasses is about 1330. The whipple or headdress which forms part of the costume of the lady was allowed to be worn only by ladies of title, and the way it was put on indicated the rank of the wearer. As represented on the engraving on the brasses, it shows that Sir John's wife was a nobleman's daughter and a lady in her own right. If she had been a princess, it would have been worn high enough to hide her lips. If she were merely a knight's wife it would have reached her chin."
1 SIC: The brass is of Sir John de Northwode, son of Sir Roger de Northwode and Lady Bona Fitz Bernard. There is a full account of these brasses with some bibliographical references in Marion Norwood Callam's The Norwoods II, Heraldry and Brasses, pp. 59-68. |
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