Church of England
Bradwell
Buckinghamshire
Milton Keynes City Council
SP 831 394
2
1688
1762
Recorded Ledgerstones
Bradwell, St Lawrence : Ledgerstone 1
The rectangular dark grey floor slab has an inscription which occupies two thirds of the slab and is surmounted by an incised achievement of arms. No colours or tinctures are visible on the slab. The ledgerstone is aligned with the crest at the west end of the church.
The coat of arms on the ledgerstone is that of the Reverend Eyles (Iles) and his wife Martha. The dexter side of the escutcheon shield has three fleurs-de-lys in a line indicating that he was the sixth son. Underneath are two engrailed lines, forming an engrailed band. The sinister side of the shield for Martha has a diagonal band from dexter to sinister, bordered on each side by two narrow bands, and bearing three heart-shaped objects. Above the escutcheon is a fleur-de-lys resting on a severed leg of a lion on a wreath.
BLAZON
Azure a fesse engrailed (Sable), in chief three fleurs-de-lys (Sable) [EYLES] impaling on a bend cotised three buckles (?)
Crest a lion’s gamb erased lying fessewise argent holding a fleur-de-lys (Sable)
(ref a)
The incised white inscription is in mixed roman caps and l/c. Some of the words are italicised and the ‘long s’ is used. The word Vicar is contracted. The spelling is in an archaic form throughout.
The memorial is cracked in several places and one side of the text is worn away. The north side has been partially obscured by the wall mortar. It is protected under a sheet of plywood and a red carpet in the Tower.
Reference
a) Blazon text provided by Chloe Cockerill, Heraldry Expert Cambridgeshire CRS (consulted 11 May 2022)
Slate
1762
l. 76.3 inches (1940mm) x w. 44 inches (1120mm)
Martha Eyles [sic] was the wife of George Albert Iles who was the vicar of St Lawrence from 1741 to 1773 (ref b). George Albert Iles was also rector of Woolstone. He studied at Queen’s College Oxford receiving his MA on 3 July 1722. He was inducted to St Lawrence on 4 February 1741 (ref c). His name and dates of service are recorded on List of Vicars of St Lawrence (502) on the south wall of the chancel. His name is also spelt as EYLES (ref d).
References
b) The Story of St Lawrence Church, by Peter Lazard, published by Bradwell Church 2014, p 18;
c) The History and Antiquities of the County of Buckingham, 1847, Vol 4, pp 44-46 by George Lipscomb (accessed via Internet Archive website), p 46;
d) The Clergy database website (https://theclergydatabase.org.uk ID 93812, accessed 28 November 2021).
SACRED / To the memory of MARTHA, wife of / GEORGE ALBERT EYLES Vicr of this / Church, who died March 26th -1762 / In whom every thing was amiable, excellent / Perfect, who did every thing with Proprie / ty, Delicacy, Dignity; whoʃe Temper was inimi / table even, ʃweet chearful; whoʃe words were / few soft nervous, whose Judgment was pre / [—-]clear; ʃound; whoʃe Piety, Charity, and / Sobriety were conʃiʃtent and conʃummate / who ʃhone with diʃtinguiʃhed luʃtre in all / the meek and humble and charming Vir / tues; who bore the ʃoreʃt Afflictions, Sor / rows and sickneʃses with moʃt admirable / and unabated Patience, Magnanimity and / Perʃeverance; of whom the World was not / worthy and whoʃe [-]eward is in heaven /
: Ledgerstone 1
The rectangular dark grey floor slab is on the floor of the tower underneath a modern red carpet and partly hidden under a cupboard. The inscription occupies two thirds of the slab and is surmounted by an incised achievement of arms. No colours or tinctures are visible on the slab. The ledgerstone is aligned with the arms at the west end of the church.
The coat of arms is of Joseph Alston, who was the Second Baron of Chelsea and Bradwell Abbey. It consists of a shield with impaled coats of arms. On the dexter side of the shield are the arms of the Alston family comprising ten stars, one row of four at the top, one of three, one of two and a single star at the bottom. The centre star in the row of three stars surrounds a very indistinct small escutcheon or shield.
On the sinister side of the shield are the arms of Elizabeth Thompson, Baron Alston’s wife, who was the daughter of Maurice Thompson. There is a sun enclosed in a rectangle above two indented lines of three chevrons, with a row of three stars between.
Above the shield is a helm with the visor facing dexter with a large feathered mantling. Above the helm is a crest comprising a crescent denoting the second son, beneath a six pointed star resting on a striped crest wreath or torse.
BLAZON
Ten estoiles four, three, two and one, an inescutcheon of pretence [ALSTON] impaling on a fesse dancette three estoiles, on a canton the sun in glory [THOMPSON]
Crest out of a crescent an estoile. (ref a)
The incised text is in roman caps with archaic spelling throughout. The letter V is used for U and there some contractions and superscriptions. The letter ‘e’ of Ye is set between the arms of the Y. The double letter N is joined. The T and H are conjoined on the date.
The ledgerstone has several white spots of cement on the surface but is otherwise undamaged.
Reference
a) Blazon text provided by Chloe Cockerill, Heraldry Expert, Cambridgeshire CRS (consulted 11 May 2022)
Slate
1688
l. 79.3 inches (2015mm) x w. 38.2 inches (970mm)
Sir Joseph Alston was buried in the chancel and the ledgerstone was placed there originally. It was later moved to the Tower (ref b). Sir Joseph was the 2nd Baronet of Chelsea and Bradwell and lived in Bradwell Abbey from 1660 onwards (ref c). He was the High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire in 1670 (ref d). A regular worshipper at the church, he gave a silver communion flagon and paten to St Lawrence, Bradwell, possibly in memory of his father who died in May 1688 (ref e).
Before the Gregorian calendar was adopted in 1752, the year began on 24th March so the deaths of both Baron Alstons are recorded as being in the year 1688. After 1752, when 1st January was adopted as the start of a new year, the second Baron Alston’s death would be 14 March 1689.
References
b) The Story of St Lawrence Church, by Peter Lazard, published by Bradwell Church 2014, p 8;
c) The History and Antiquities of the County of Buckingham, 1847, Vol 4, pp 44-46 by George Lipscomb (accessed via Internet Archive website), p 44;
d) Complete Baronetage, ed. Cockayne, G E Vol IV (1665-1707), pp 143-144 (at https://archive.org/details/cu31924092524408, accessed 11 September 2021);
e) Lazard, P, ibid p 8.
HEARE LYETH BVRIED YE BODY OF SR / JOSEPH ALSTON OF BRADWELL ABBY / IN YE COVNTY OF BVCKS BART SONN OF / SR JOSEPH ALSTON OF CHELSEY IN YE / COVNTY OF MIDDELSEX BART WHOO / MARIED ELIZABETH THE DAVGHTER OF / MAVRICE THOMSON [sic] LATE OF HAVERSHAM / IN YE COVNTY OF BVCKS ESQ BY WHOM HE / HAD FOWER SONS AND TWO DAVGHTERS / JOSEPH EDWARD MAVRICE ISAAC MARY / ELIZABETH YE TWO DAVGHTERS DIED / YOVNG MAURICE AT FIFTEEN YEARS / OVLDYE OTHERS SVRVIVED HIM / HE [——-]D THIS LIFE YE 14TH OF MARCH / [—]O DOMINI 1688 / AGED 49 /
