The Monumental Church Brasses of Thurrock


 

GRAYS, ST PETER AND ST PAUL

TLHS Home Page

Patrons of the society

TLHS publications

Meetings and events

People and places of interest in Thurrock

Contacts

Sports and leisure

Thurrock Church Brasses

There is only one brass in Grays Parish Church and it commemorates a man who was probably a prominent citizen of the town who lived c. 1520 AD. The brass originally lay in the nave and consisted of the civilian, his two wives, one son and six daughters plus the inscription (Fig.l.) Now it is fixed to the south wall of the chancel and only the wives and daughters remain (Fig.2)

In 1861, the effigy of the civilian, 33.7cm high, was still in place although the son and the inscription had gone, but by 1892, when a rubbing was taken by the Essex Archaeological Society, the civilian too had been lost. This unknown citizen was depicted wearing a long, loose, fur-trimmed gown and had hair almost to his shoulders. His wives 33cm high, one on each side and half-turned towards him, are dressed alike, each in a long gown with close fitting sleeves and cuffs of what appears to be fur. The robe is held at the waist by a long embroidered girdle, which hangs to the ground. Their head-dresses are the pedimental style typical of the period. The six girls, 14.6cms high, are attired in long gowns, their hair is loose down their backs, a sign that they were unmarried. All the effigies are in the attitude of prayer.


Fig. 1


Fig. 2

Return to top