Church of England
Frenze
Norfolk
South Norfolk D. C.
TM 136804
Rev’d James Roskelly
The Rectory,
Station Road,
Pulham Market,
Diss.
IP21 4TE
15
1476
1795
Recorded Ledgerstones
Frenze, St Andrew : Ledgerstone 1
Rectangular
Aligned North to South. head to North.
A brass plate with inscription is centrally located. To the upper right there remains the top 2/3 approx. of a female figure in brass. A second figure, to the upper left, has been lost, as have two shields towards the bottom left and right.
The lettering and language are both archaic
Condition good to fair, having been damaged by removal of brasses.
Ref a. indicates that the two shields were respectively, Duke quartering Banyard, Park and Ilketshall impaling Hasset quartering Lowdham, Keldon, Orton and Skelton, and Hasset and his quarterings as before.
Stone and brass
1551
1830 x 950 mm
72 x 37 inches
George Duke was married to Anne, the daughter of Thomas and Margaret Blenerhasset. (ref.b)
Heare undr lyeth George Duke Eſquyre
Who maryed Anne the Dawghter of ſyr Thom
Blenerhayſett Knyght the whyche George
Dyed the xxvi daye of July, in the yeare
Of oure lorde god a.m.ccccc.li:
Whoſe Sowle God pardon. Amen
Ref.a) Blomefield’s History of Norfolk, Vol.1, p156.
b) Churches Conservation Trust Booklet, Series 4, No. 53. Aug. 1996.
Michael Richards
Frenze, St Andrew : Ledgerstone 2
Rectangular
Aligned North to South, Head to North
Lettering on brass plate beneath brass figure of knight in armour, with sword at his side, standing on a lion, located centrally. Four shields at the corners of the stone are missing.
Latin, with numerous abbreviations, in archaic script
Condition good to fair.
Ref a. indicates that the missing shield were
i. Blenerhasset with an annulet quartering Orton.
ii. Ditto impaling Lowdham.
iii. As the second.
iv. Lowdham single.
Stone and brass
1475
1890 x 820 mm
74.5 x 32 inches
Ralph Blenerhasset is the first of that family to be commemorated here. (ref.b)
Hic iacet venerabilis vir Radulphus Blen7hayſett /
Armiger qui obijt xviiio die menſis novembris /
A˚ dñi m˚ cccc˚lxxv˚ cui9 aĩe ppiciet de9 amen /
Translation. (ref.c)
Here lies the venerable man Ralph Blenerhaysett / Esquire who died on the 18th day of November / in the year of Our Lord 1475 may God have mercy on his soul. Amen /
Ref. a) Blomefield’s History of Norfolk, Vol.1, p156.
b) CCT Booklet, Series 4. No 53. Aug 1996.
c) Translation by C.David Holmes, NADFAS adviser.
Michael Richards
Frenze, St Andrew : Ledgerstone 3
Rectangular
Aligned North to South, with head to North
A shield at each corner; a lozenge centrally above which is a rectangle and beneath which is a brass plate with inscription.
Lettering Latin in roman caps and l/c, the last two lines in sloping roman.
With the exception of the inscription, all the decoration is much damaged. It may be inferred (from ref.a) that:
i. The upper two shields are Culpeper impaling Hassett and Bacon impaling Hassett.
ii. The rectangle with a Fox sedant on a wreath is Orton.
iii. The lozenge is Hassett.
iv. The lower two shields, both of which have lost much of their base are, first, Hassett, Lowdham, Orton, Keldon, Skelton, Duke fretty Lowthe, and second, Duke.
The stone has been damaged by the defacing of the various shields, but otherwise good.
Natural stone
1587
1840 x 840 mm
72.5 x 33 inches
Mariæ filiæ et heredi vnicæ Georgij Blenerhaiſet
armigeri filij primogeneti Thomæ Blenerhaiſet
militis inauriti enuptæ primo Thomæ Culpeper
Arigero qi hîc: poſtea Franciſco Bacon armigero
qi petiſtriæ in comitat: Suff. tumulatur ſine ple
defuncte xvij Septemb: 1587. ætatis ſuæ 70
Viduæ, piæ, caſtæ, Hoſpitali Benignæ
Joannes Cornwaleis et Joannes Blenerhai∫et
Memoriæ et amoris ergo posuerut.
Translation. (ref.b)
To Mary, daughter and sole heiress of George Blenerhaiset / Esquire, first born son of Sir Thomas Blenerhaiset, Knight; / She was married first to Thomas Culpeper / Esquire who is entombed here, and afterwards to Francis Bacon Esquire / who is buried at Pettistree in the county of Suffolk. She died without issue / on 17th September 1587. aged 70. / To a pious and chaste widow and benefactress of the Hospital / John Cornwaleis and John Blenerhaiset / have set up this memorial in her memory and out of love for her. /
Ref.a. Blomefield’s History of Norfolk, Vol. 1, p156.
b) Translation by C.David Holmes, NADFAS adviser.
Michael Richards
Frenze, St Andrew : Ledgerstone 4
Rectangular
Aligned East to West, with head to West
Crest at the head in bas relief with lettering incised below
Roman caps and lowercase
Per fess embattled three pheons impaling on a chief an axe above five roundels, NIXON. See comment below.
Condition good
Black marble
1693
1250 x 530 mm
49 x 21 inches
Here Lyeth the
Body of William
Cooper Geñt. Who
Dyed the 30th day
of March 1693
aged 54 years
Blomefield’s History of Norfolk gives the blazon for Nixon as an axe impaling three roundels, but there are very definitely five here, as also on 009 and 010.
Michael Richards
Frenze, St Andrew : Ledgerstone 5
Rectangular
Aligned East to West, with head to West
Lettering on brass plate, centrally, beneath brass male figure with sword hanging in front. Shields at each of the four corners have been very badly damaged or removed.
Latin, with abbreviations, in archaic script4
No legible heraldry. Ref a. mentions Hasset, Lowdham, Orton, Lowthe and Heigham.
Condition good, except where brasses have been removed
Natural stone, brass
1510
2090 x 980 mm
82 x 38.5 inches
John was the son of Ralph at 001. (ref.b)
Hic iacet ven7abilis vir Johes Blen7″ /
hayſet Armigr7 qi obij viceſimo vijo die /
mēſ novēb Ao dõ m˚vc x cui7 aīe ppiciet dž /
Translation. (ref.c)
Here lies the venerable man John Blenerhayset Esquire, who died on the 27th day of November in the year of our Lord 1510; may God have mercy on his soul.
Ref.a) Blomefield’s History of Norfolk, Vol.1, p156.
b) CCT Booklet, Series 4, No 53, Aug 1996.
c) Translation by C.David Holmes, NADFAS adviser.
Michael Richards
Frenze, St Andrew : Ledgerstone 6
Rectangular
Aligned East to West, with head to West
Lettering on a brass plate under the figure of a woman “bidding her beads” (ref.a) located centrally.Three shields were once in place in a row beneath the inscription; the indent of the Left hand one remains: the central one is completely removed and the Right hand one is badly damaged, with only a lion rampant in the second quarter discernible.
Inscription in English, in Old English script.
Ref.a. gives the shields as: Hasset, with an annulet, quartering Lowdham. Ditto impaling Tindall, quartering Fecklin. Tindall quartering Orton and Scales.
Fair only, with a repaired crack extending across the stone from upper Left to mid-Right and depressions from removed decoration.
Black stone
1521
2090 x 960 mm
82 x 38 inches
Ref.a. states that this stone was located by the South door. It has very evidently been moved. Jane was married to John at 005. (ref.b)
Pray for the Soule of Jane Bleñhayſett widow late wyf / onto John Bleñhayſett esquyer whiche Jane departed oute / of this pſent lyf ye vi day of October the yere of our lord / god mo ve xxi on whoſe ſoule Jhü have mercy Amen /
Ref.a) Blomefield’s History of Norfolk, Vol.1, p156.
b) CCT Booklet, Series 4, No 53. Aug 1996.
Michael Richards
Frenze, St Andrew : Ledgerstone 7
Rectangular
Aligned North to South, with head to North
Lettering on brass plate beneath the figure of a man “in his winding sheet” (ref a). No other decoration.
Archaic English and spelling
Cracked across in lower third, with second diagonal crack from close to the centre going down Right.
Black stone
1520
1420 x 540 mm
56 x 21 inches
Not known if Thomas Hobson was one of the Blenerhasset family. (ref.b)
Pray for ye Sowle of your charite
Of Thomas Hobſon to ye trinite
Ref.a) Blomefield’s History of Norfolk, p. 156.
b) C.C.T. Booklet, Series 4, No. 53. Aug. 1996.
Michael Richards
Frenze, St Andrew : Ledgerstone 8
Rectangular
Aligned East to West, with head to the West
Lettering, in ten lines, commences at the head. No heraldry.
Roman caps and lowercase
Some extraneous scratches, but otherwise good.
Black stone
1787
1700 x 850 mm
67 x 33.5 inches
In Memory of
WILLIAM SMITH Gen.
late of Frenze Hall.
who died March 27th 1795
Aged 50 Years.
Also of ELIZABETH his Wife
who died June 30th 1787
Aged 33 Years.
And of WILLIAM their Son
Who died an Infant.
Michael Richards
Frenze, St Andrew : Ledgerstone 9
Rectangular
Aligned East to West, with head to West
Shield at the head with lettering beneath
Latin in roman caps
On a chief, an axe above five roundels, NIXON, impaling a chevron between three lions rampant.
A longitudinal crack from upper left to two thirds along the bottom, together with three roughly horizontal cracks from the left. Fair.
Black stone
1666
1800 x 850 mm
71 x 33.5 inches
Richard Nixon died seized of the Parish, having taken it, at some unknown date, from Samuel Blenerhasset, (? Great-grandson of 005?). (ref.a)
RELIQUIÆ RICHARDI NIXON ARMIG:
QVI OBIJT 24˚ NOVEMBRIS ANNO DOM
1666 ÆTATIS SVÆ 72
Translates as:
The remains of Richard Nixon Gent. who died 24th November A.D.1666 aged 72.
Ref.a) Blomefields History of Norfolk. p.156.
Michael Richards
Frenze, St Andrew : Ledgerstone 10
Rectangular
Aligned East to West, with head to West
Shield at the head, with lettering beneath
Roman caps and lowercase
on a chief, an axe above five roundels. NIXON.
Some scratches, but condition good
Black stone
1678
1750 x 850 mm
69 x 33.5 inches
This Richard was son and heir of the Richard Nixon at 009. (ref.a)
Here lieth the body of Richard the
Son of Richard Nixon Eſqr and
Suſan his wife who departed this
life the 28th day of August 1678
in the 22th (sic) year of his age
Ref.a) CCT Booklet Series 4, no. 53. August 1996.
Michael Richards
Frenze, St Andrew : Ledgerstone 11
Rectangular
Aligned East to West, head to West
No lettering discernible
Depression at head caused by physical damage. Vestiges of two shields towards the base. There may have been an inscription but, if so, it has been totally defaced. Condition poor.
Black stone
1560 x 930 mm
61.5 x 36.5 inches
Michael Richards
Frenze, St Andrew : Ledgerstone 12
Rectangular
Aligned North to South, with head to South
Evidence of brass, comprising possibly an inscription plate and two shields, located towards the head
Large crack diagonally from top Right to mid Left, otherwise and with exception a depression from removed brass. Condition good
Black stone
1830 x 900 mm
72 x 35.5 inches
Blomefield’s History of Norfolk indicates that the position of this stone was once occupied by that of Jane Blenerhaysett, now at 006.
Michael Richards
Frenze, St Andrew : Ledgerstone 13
Rectangular
Aligned East to West, with head to West
Indent of removed plate and shield towards the head. The top of the stone is concealed beneath a harmonium
Except for indent of removed brass, condition good.
Black stone
1520 x 77 mm
60 x 30 inches
Michael Richards
Frenze, St Andrew : Ledgerstone 14
Rectangular
Aligned North to South, with head to North
In brass, the figure of a woman “in her winding sheet, bidding her beads” (ref.a), beneath which is a plate bearing an inscription and beneath which again, three shields in a row.
Latin in an archaic script.
i. Sable a cross (fleury) humetty Or. BRAHAM.
ii. BRAHAM impaling Chequey Arg. and Gules a
cross Azure REYDON.
iii. REYDON. (ref.a)
A transverse crack from upper Right to mid-Left. A second, near horizontal, crack from mid-Right to mid-Left. Some pock marks but otherwise good.
Black stone
1519
2070 x 970 mm
81.5 x 38 inches
Johanna was probably the mother of Margaret Blenerhasset who, married to George, was mother of Mary (003). (ref.b)
Hic iacet tumulata dña Johanna Braham vidua ac deo dicata / olim vxor Johīs Braham Armigeri que obijt xviijo die Nouēbris / Ao dñî millmo ccccco xjxo cuius aīe ppicietur deus Amen /
Translation. (ref.c)
Here lies entombed Lady Joan Braham, widow and a woman dedicated to God. She was formerly the wife of John Braham Esquire; she died on the 18th November in the year of our Lord 1519. may God have mercy on her soul, amen.
Ref.a) Blomefields History of Norfolk, p. 156.
b) A Dictionary of Suffolk Arms. J Corder.
c) Translation by C.David Holmes, NADFAS adviser.
Michael Richards
Frenze, St Andrew : Ledgerstone 15
Square
Inscription is read facing East
Two incised words occupy whole title
Modern roman caps
Condition good, but glazing deteriorating
Flat, glazed tile
305 x 305 mm
12 x 12 inches
VAULT’S
MOUTH
Michael Richards
