copyright © The Cleer S. Alger Photographic Collection at Bressingham Steam Museum	photo: B.J.                                click on either image to enlarge
"Frenze Church, Nr. Diss, Norfolk - The Sheldrake Smith family - c1860" photograph by Cleer S. Alger (1819-1883) "The Pioneer Photographer of East Anglia"

 

"The Churches Conservation Trust" church guide booklet for St Andrew (Series 4, No.53, August 1996) by Anthony Barnes

 

b.c1409/10 d.23-Jun-1501

 

 

 

photo: B.J.   photo: B.J.     Ralph Blenerhaysett esquire 1475 Norwich workshop (chisel cut marks at knee height across legs and sword)

DRAWING & ETCHING The earliest known drawing of Ralph's effigy was made by Rev. Thomas Kerrich M.A., F.S.A. (1748-1828), Anglican clergyman, principal Cambridge University Librarian (Protobibliothecarius), antiquary and antiquarian illustrator [KERRICH]. The drawing is at the British Library, catalogued in: "Catalogue of the Manuscript Maps, Charts, and Plans and of the Topographical Drawings in the British Museum" v.2 1894, pp.66-67, as: "An outline drawing, in pen and ink, of the monumental brass effigies of Ralph Bleverhasset, Esq., (who died in 1475,) in Frenze Church; drawn by the Rev. Thomas Kerrich: 8in. x 6in. [BL Add. Ms. 6728 fol.217]" Rev. Thomas Kerrich M.A., F.S.A (1748-1804) married Sophia Hayles, daughter of Richard Hayles, surgeon, of Cambridge. Sophia's sister Jane C. Hayles (active 1792-1804) produced many etchings from paintings & drawings in Kerrich's collection. Jane made an etching after Kerrich's drawing of Ralph Blenerhaysett, from which the print below right was published. The etching follows Kerrich's drawing closely but there are differences, e.g. addition of buckle detail & changes in the inscription. Her etching was later used to illustrate "The Blennerhassetts of Kesh" by John B. Cunningham ["Cloher Record" v.16, No.3, 1999, article pp.112-126, print on p.120]. Another engraving of this effigy, by Richard Gough, is mentioned in "The Norfolk Topographer's Manual" 1842, by Samuel Woodward, but I have not seen it. NOTE: Look for this engraving in Richard Gough's "Sepulchural Monuments of Great Britain" part 1 v.1 1786, part 2 v.2 1796-9 [GOUGH].

 

Description from the Hamline University Brass Rubbing Collection:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

shield 1 (damaged)

shield 2

shield 3

shield 4

 

 

 

 

 

brass rubbing © copyright BJ

 

 

 

 

 

Irish historian Mary Agnes Hickson in her otherwise excellent "Selections from Old Kerry Records, Historical and Genealogical", made several errors when copying information from [BLOMEFIELD 2nd ed. v.1 1805, p.142]. She misinterprets the Latin "vir" (man) as the English "Sir", the form of address for a knight, incorrectly naming him "Sir Radulphus Blennerhassett". He is depicted on his monumental brass effigy as a former soldier in armour, but he was not a knight.  Armiger = Esquire.

 

 

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In the porch of Frenze church rests a heavy stone coffin lid, former occupant unknown. Tapered in shape, the raised design has been deliberately defaced so as to be almost unrecognisable. Perhaps a coffin for one of the de Lowdham family, ancestor of Joan Blenerhaysett...?

 

 

 

 

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 photo: B.J.

 

Latin inscription:	Hic iacet Ven'abilis vir Joh'es Blen' hayset Armig', qi obij vicesimo vijo die Me's nove'b' Ao D'i Mo Vco Xo cuis ai'e ppicietr de'
Inscription expanded:	Hic jacet ven[er]abilis vir Joh[ann]es Blen[er] hayset[t], Armig[er] q[u]i obij[t] vicesimo vijo die me[nsi]s nove[m]b[ris] A[nn]o D[omin]i M[illesim]o Vco xo cui[u]s a[n]i[m]e p[ro]piciet[u]r de[us]
Translated into English:	Here lies the venerable man* John Blener haysett Esquire, who died the 27th day of the month of November in the Year of our Lord 1510, on whose soul may God have mercy. * "venerable man" = an honoured man, commanding respect because of great age, dignity or noble character
	NOTES: 1.  [BLOMEFIELD 2nd ed. v.1 1805 p.144] in error transcribes vicesimo vijo (27th November) as vicesimo viijo (28th November). 2. [FARRAR 1887 Frenze III, pp.33-34] in error also gives the date of death as 28-Nov-1510.   3. [MORIARTY in NEHGR v.98 No.3 July 1944, p.275] in error transcribes his date of death from the latin as 8-Nov-1510     and that he was "in his 87th year". This age may be correct but is from a different source, no age is stated on the brass.

 

 

Arms: at each corner of the ledger slab was a brass shield of arms:  No.1 & No.3 are missing.

 

 

shield 1

shield 2

shield 3

shield 4

 

 

 

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photo: B.J. Jane Blenerhaysett (nee Tyndall) 1521 2nd wife of John Blenerhaysett 1510

photo: B.J.

Appendix Pl[ate] 5                                     |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| foot Frense Church Norfolk 1815. Drawn Etched & Published by J[ohn] S[ell] Cotman, Yarm[outh]

 

 

 

 

 

 

shield 1

shield 2

shield 3

 

 

 

 

Irish historian Mary Agnes Hickson in ["Selections from Old Kerry Records, Historical and Genealogical" by Mary Agnes Hickson, v.1 1872, "Introductory Memoir" p.5] made small errors copying this inscription from [BLOMEFIELD 2nd ed. v.1 1805, p.142]   This is Hickson's version >--->

 

 

 

 

 

Anne Blenerhaysett, daughter of Sir Thomas Blenerhaysett, Kt (d.1531) married 1stly George Duke esquire & 2ndly Peter Rede esquire of Norwich.

The tomb of her 1st husband George Duke is in the chancel at Frenze, near the communion table. On his tomb of 1551 were separate effigies of himself and his wife, side by side, but Anne remarried so was not interred with George. George Duke's effigy and the four shields of arms are missing but it is recorded that he was dressed as a civilian, with cloak and sword. The effigy for Anne Duke (nee Blenerhaysett) remains but is damaged, the lower part missing.

 

[COTMAN 2nd ed. vol.1 p.42 & pl.80] tells us Anne Rede "...was the widow of the person whose memorial is given under the date 1568. Her executors are not liable to the charge of fraud, which was made against his; for her figure affords us a singular and not inelegant example of female dress in the middle of the reign of Elizabeth."

 

[COTMAN 2nd ed. vol.1 p.421 & pl.77] tells us of the brass for Peter Rede "This monument is placed in memory of a man who appears to haver deserved a better, by his courage abroad and his liberality at home. The spirit of economy, however, in his executors, prompted them to adopt an effigy, which probably represented some other man a century before, fitting a new head to it with a more modern helmet. At each corner of the stone was a shield. Read, Azure, on a bend wavy Or three moorcocks Sable, within a bordure engrailed Argent pellete, a crescent ermine; with the following honourable addition given by the Emperor, viz. a canton sinister parted per pale, on the first part two ragged staves in saltire, on the second, a man holding a caduceus in his right hand, his left pointing upwards; on his sinister side, a sword in pale, with the point downwards pricked into a moor's head. Another shield impales Blenerhasset, his wife being a daughter of that family. She survived him nine years, and was buried in St. Margaret's church. Her effigy is given under date 1577."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Ashmolean Museum, Oxford brass rubbing collection has a rubbing catalogued as: Norfolk 1/183

	photo: B.J.
	Pray for ye Sowle of your charite, of Thomas Hobson to ye trynyte
Expanded Inscription	Pray for the Soul, of your charity, of Thomas Hobson to the [holy] trinity

BLENNERHASSETT - HOBSON CONNECTION:

 

 

 

 

 

	Pray for the Sowle of Thomas Ropkyn.

 

 

 

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also illustrated here is an etching of 1816 by John Sell Cotman,

	photo: B.J.                                     click on image to enlarge
			An inaccurate version published by Irish historian Mary Agnes Hickson in: ["Selections from Old Kerry Records, Historical and Genealogical" by Mary Agnes Hickson, v.1 1872, "Introductory Memoir" p.5]. She used as her source [BLOMEFIELD 2nd ed. v.1 1805, p.142].
	Mariae filiae et heredi vincae Georgij Blenerhaiset armigeri filij primogeneti Thomae Blenerhaiset militis inaurati enuptae primo Thomae Culpeper Ar'igero qi  hic: postea Franciso Bacon armigero. qi  Petistriae in comitat : Suff : tumulatur sine ple : defuncte . xvij Septemb : 1587. aetatis suae 70 Viduae, piae, castae, Hospitali, Benignae   Ioannes Cornwaleis et Ioannes Blenerhaiset Memoriae et amoris ergo posuerut .
	Latin Inscription
	Mariae filiae et heredi vincae Georgij Blenerhaiset armigeri ç Thomae Blenerhaiset militis inaurati enuptae primo Thomae Culpeper Ar[m]igero q[u]i hic: postea Franciso Bacon armigero. q[u]i Petistriae in comitat: Suff[olk] tumulatur sine p[ro]le defuncte . xvij Septemb[bribus] 1587. aetatis suae 70 Viduae, piae, castae, Hospitali, Benignae   Ioannes Cornwaleis et Ioannes Blenerhaiset Memoriae et amoris ergo posuerut .
	Inscription expanded
	Mary, daughter and heir to George Blenerhaysett esquire the son of Thomas Blenerhaysett Knight, wife of Thomas Culpeper Esquire, and afterwards of Francis Bacon esquire of Pettistree in the County of Suffolk, who died 17th September 1587 without issue aged 70 a widow, pious, chaste, hospitable John Cornwaleis and John Blenerhaysett [erected this] in memory of and with love towards her.
	Translated into English
	NOTE: [BLOMEFIELD v.1 1805, p.143] mis-transcribes by omitting          a line and making the son a knight, instead of the father.

 

	click on image to enlarge shield 1	click on image to enlarge shield 2	shield 3	shield 4
	click on image to enlarge lozenge 5			Blennerhassett crest 6

 

arms quarterly of 9

1. quarterly:      1st & 4th Culpepper                          2nd & 3rd "a chevron engrailed between 11 martlets, 3,2,1,2,3"                                                                                 [FARRER, Frenze p.34] describes this "a semée (semé) of martlets"     impaling quarterly of 9:   1st Blennerhassett                            2nd Lowdham                            3rd Kelvedon (Keldon)                         4th Orton                                         5th Skelton (crescent on fess)     6th Covert (annulet on ermine fess)                         7th Pelham*                                     8th Echingham                           9th Lowthe *** NOTE: the sinister quarterings are identical to shields 2. & 5.   2.                     Bacon - single (with mullet)     impaling quarterly of 9:   1st Blennerhassett                            2nd Lowdham                            3rd Kelvedon (Keldon)                         4th Orton                                         5th Skelton (crescent on fess)     6th Covert** (anulet on ermine fess)                         7th Pelham*                                     8th Echingham                           9th Lowthe *** NOTE: the sinister quarterings are identical to shields 1. & 5.   3. quarterly:      1st & 6th Blennerhassett                   2nd Lowdham                            3rd Kelvedon                         4th Orton                                         5th  Skelton (crescent on fess) 4. quarterly:      1st Covert**(annulet on fess)           2nd Pelham*                         3rd Echingham                                 4th Lowthe *** 5. lozenge, at centre of slab, quarterly of 9:                          1st Blennerhassett                            2nd Lowdham                            3rd Kelvedon (Keldon)                              4th Orton                                         5th Skelton (crescent on fess)     6th Covert** (annulet on ermine fess)                         7th Pelham*                                     8th Echingham                           9th Lowthe *** NOTE: These quarterings identical to sinister side of shields 1 & 2 so, where quartering is unclear, look at other shields... Colour: Individual shields of arms on this and other monumental brasses at Frenze wouldprobably have been enamelled or otherwise painted in their correct heraldic colours. It is rare for enamelling on a monumental brass to survive and none survives at Frenze. Brass is not a good medium for enamel, temperature change and damp over time causes brass to expand and contract, thus enamel cracks and falls away in small pieces. *    PELHAM       arms of Pelham = three pelicans vulning themselves.  vulning (or mining) = wounding itself by biting its own breast.       This is a word traditionally used of the pelican, which in the past was believed to feed its young with blood drawn from       its own chest; used both as heraldic motif and as a symbol of Christ.      - Isabel Covert (nee Pelham) is Mary Blennerhasett Culpeper Bacon's grandmother         NOTE: The Hon. and Right Rev. John Thomas Pelham, Lord Bishop of Norwich, bore these arms                 impaled with arms of the See of Norwich "Azure, three mitres labelled Or"   **  COVERT       arms of Covert = "Gules, a fess ermine between three martlets Or" (annulet on fess for difference)       but [COTMAN v.2, description p.35] has arms of Duke = "Azure, a fess ermine, between three martlets Argent"           both [BLOMEFIELD 2nd ed. v.1 1805, p.144] & [COTMAN v.1, plate 83 description p.43 & v.2, description p.35]        each in error name these COVERT quarterings as DUKE, but it is not so, they are COVERT.      - Anne Blennerhassett (nee Covert) is Mary Blennerhassett Culpeper Bacon's mother      - Isabel Covert (nee Pelham) is Mary Blennerhasett Culpeper Bacon's grandmother   *** LOWTHE ??        both [BLOMEFIELD 2nd ed. v.1 1805, p.144] and [COTMAN v.2, plate 83, description p.43]         name these quarterings as LOWTHE, but I feel they perhaps should be SUTTON, because Jane Sutton is        Mary Blennerhassett Culpeper Bacon's grandmother (1st wife of her grandfather Sir Thomas Blennerhassett, Kt)   6.   crest: the Blennerhassett crest (above lozenge):                                            "a fox sejant Gules, on a wreath Argent and Gules"                                            - the wolf of the Blennerhassett crest was often, in Norfolk & Suffolk, described as a fox       NOTE: The crest is been made from two pieces of brass, no doubt to reduce wastage of valuable material.

 

[FARRAR 1887, Frenze IV, pp.34-35]

 

 

 

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photo: B.J.	photo: B.J.
unidentified ledger slab 1 at the south (porch) door. This has indents for an inscription brass & two brass shields of arms [BLOMEFIELD 2nd ed. v.1 1805, p.143] writes, perhaps of this stone: "Another stone hath its inscription torn off, and one shield; the other [shield] is Cornwaleis (Cornwallis) impaling Froxmere."	unidentified ledger slab 1
photo: B.J.	photo: B.J.
unidentified ledger slab 2 this is the most westerly of a row of four such slabs in the centre aisle, next to the font, aligned with N. & S. doors The inscription is completely lost, worn away, as is any indent for a brass that may, or may not, have been present	unidentified ledger slab 2 in this photograph the slab is to the right of the font,  first of a row of 4 such slabs in the centre aisle   The other 3 slabs are black marble, covering later Lords of the Manor. See photo top of page & "Frenze after the Blennerhassetts"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

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MEDIEVAL STAINED AND PAINTED GLASS AT FRENZE

 

 

Frenze church at one time boasted a considerable quantity of heraldic stained glass, Blomefield writing in his 1st edition:

"In the windows are arms and funeral escutcheons of the Hassetts, &c. most of which still remain." [BLOMEFIELD 1st ed. v.2 1781, p.123].

Since then almost all the heraldic glass reported by Blomefield has been lost, only the fragments in these photographs remaining in the .

 

 

The Churches Conservation Trust church guide booklet (August 1996) by Anthony Barnes on p.2 tells us: "There used to be a considerable quantity of heraldic stained glass, but almost all of it has now gone" and "A number of panes of glass record the names of glaziers carrying out repairs, one even mentioning the weather on the day he did the work."

 

The 1st edition of Blomefield does not list the ancient glass in detail but the 2nd edition [BLOMEFIELD 2nd ed. v.1 180, p.145] gives descriptions, as follows, and tells us "Most of these arms still remain in the windows":

 

 

 

[BLOMEFIELD 2nd ed. v.1 1805 p.142] tells us: '...having no steeple, the bell hangs on the outside of the roof, at the west end."

 

The Frenze church guide booklet of est. c1990 by "H.M.S." tells us: (who is H.M.S.?)

 

"A wooden bell cote which contains one bell weighing 75lbs., inscribed "John Goldsmith made mee 1707,"

standson the West end of the tiled roof. A small stone cross stands over the East end."

The Churches Conservation Trust church guide booklet (August 1996) by Anthony Barnes on p.2 tells us:

 "The roof was repaired in 1900, when a new wooden bellcot was built a little further east from the old one,

 all on the instructions of the Patron, Edward (later Sir Edward) Mann." also "The bell is by John Goldsmith of Redgrave, 1707."

 

 

 

 

 

An ancient canvas wall hanging, painted with the arms of Blennerhassett and their intermarriages in Norfolk & Suffolk, was seen "surrounding two rooms" at a house at Caister, near Yarmouth, Norfolk by Francis Blomefield when gathering material for his "History of Norfolk" est. c1745. The arms are listed below in the sequence recorded by Blomefield.

 

The canvas had belonged to John Blennerhassett (d.1704), last of Blennerhassett name in Norfolk.

[BLOMEFIELD 1st ed. v.2 1781 pp.123-124]. Similar wording appears in [BLOMEFIELD 2nd ed. v.1 1805 p.146] followed by the list below:

 

 

[VoS] "The Visitation of Suffolk 1561" part II, p.358

 

    Collections are held at the British Library Department of Manuscripts [BL], the Bodleian Library, [BODLEIAN] and All Souls College, Oxford.

    Anstis Ms. references to monumental brass effigies & inscriptions at Frenze & Kenninghall are mentioned by [BLOMEFIELD] as:

 

          ANSTIS Ms. A 23 f.222 (in Blomefield 2nd Ed.1805 at Frenze p.145)

          ANSTIS Ms. G 6   f.39  (in Blomefield 1st  Ed.1781 at Frenze p.121; 2nd Ed.1805 at Frenze p.142)

          ANSTIS Ms. E 26 f.23   (in Blomefield 2nd Ed.1805 at Frenze p.144 & 145)

          ANSTIS Ms. E 26 f.29   (in Blomefield 2nd Ed.1805 at Kenninghall p.224)

    NOTE: Papers of John Anstis now at the British Library [BL] Department of Ms. are the result of several different donations/acquisitions so they

              are not stored or catalogued as a coherent collection. The British Museum/British Library numbering system for these does not relate in

              any way to the library shelf numbering used by John Anstis and I have failed to identify these Frenze/Kenninghall references as documents

              at the [BL].  Perhaps these are to be found in the Bodleian Library, Oxford...

 

 

 

 

 

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(Sir Thomas Blenerhaysett Kt and his two wives)