The Lady and the Crown: Eleanor (de Montagu) de Dinham

Saturday, 3 September, 2005


Dear Brom, Richard, et al.,

While continuing to seek details concerning the Dinham family,
I found online the text of John Stabb's "Some Old Devon Churches",
part of which provides the following information and related
photographs from the church of St. Mary in Kingskerswell [fuller
extract given below]:

' On the sills of three windows in the north aisle are effigies
supposed to represent members of the Dinham family, but it is
doubtful if this is true. The figure [plate 140b] in the
easternmost window of the three is that of a female wearing a
coronet, the hair standing out in cushions on each side of the
head; across the forehead there is an ornamental fillet carried
down over the hair on each side.... ' [1]

This is the effigy of Lady Eleanor (Montagu) Dinham, which was
mentioned to me by Dr. Hannes Kleineke had seen in Kingskerswell
during his research concerning the Dinhams. Despite Mr. Stabbs'
concerns (evidently due to the presence of the crown in the
effigy), this actually lends further credence to my earlier
identification of Lady Eleanor as Eleanor/Alianora, daughter of
John de Montagu and Margaret de Monthermer: John de Montagu's will
of 20 March 1388 devised in part,

' to my sons John and Thomas two gilt pots, marked
with the arms of Sir John de Grandison;
to my daughter Alianore a gilt cup of the best sort;
to Richard, my son, and to Sibyll, Catherine and
Margaret, my daughters, a cup and ewer each;
to Alianore, my daughter, the crown which my wife
had in her custody;
& c. " [2]

I have not found to date any further reference to this crown,
or coronet (likely originally belonging to Joan of Acre, dau. of
Edward I of England and paternal grandmother of Margaret de
Monthermer) but its apparent representation on the tomb of Lady
Eleanor in 1393/1394 is striking. Likely, the presence of the
crown was the reason John Stabb doubted the Dinham connection with
the effigy - after all, a tomb bearing a crown would apparently
indicate a member of the royal family, ergo the identification as
a Dinham tomb would seem unlikely at best.

Cheers,

John *


NOTES

[1] from webpage, http://www.wissensdrang.com/stabb133.htm

[courtesy, Dr. R. Peters: rpeters@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ]

John Stabb, Some Old Devon Churches, their rood screens,
pulpits, fonts (London: Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent
& Co., Ltd. [no date], pp. 133-144:

" KINGSKERSWELL. St. Mary. The church [plate 140a] consists of
chancel and nave with continuous roof, north and south aisles,
north and south porches (the north having parvise), and west tower
with six bells.
On the south side of the nave are five rather pointed arches of red
sandstone resting on octagonal pillars, on the north side the
arches and pillars are of freestone and the capitals have the
usual carving of foliage. It seems probable that the tower and
south arcade are of the same date, and that the church consisted
of nave, chancel, south aisle and tower, the north aisle being a
later addition.
On the south side of the chancel is a piscina, low down, the floor
having being raised. Over the piscina is a marble tablet in memory
of Bridget Brown, of Exminster, daughter of Henry Langford Brown,
Esq., of Gambsatchfield, died November 24th 1852, aged 84, also
Susan Brown of Exminster, daughter of the above, died November
10th 1827, aged 74; also E. Brown, died November 29th 1839.
On the north side is a tablet in memory of Henry Langford Brown,
Esq., of Barton Hall, Kingskerswell, died January 6th 1857, aged
54 years; also of Mary his wife, died December 14th 1852, aged 48
years. There are remains of old glass in the east window, it is
difficult to discern the subjects, but one is evidently St. James
in pilgrim dress. On the sills of three windows in the north aisle
are effigies supposed to represent members of the Dinham family,
but it is doubtful if this is true. The figure [plate 140b] in the
easternmost window of the three is that of a female wearing a
coronet, the hair standing out in cushions on each side of the
head; across the forehead there is an ornamental fillet carried
down over the hair on each side. She wears a low cut close-fitting
bodice and a necklace round her throat, there is a flowing skirt
reaching to the feet which rest on a dog. On the front of the
bodice and part of the skirt is a band with ornamented squares.
The hands are missing but were joined in prayer, the head rests
on a pillow supported by angels, much mutilated. The figure [plate
140c] in the next window is also a female arrayed in a long
flowing gown fastened close up to the neck. The head rests on
a cushion, angels support the shoulders and there are angels on
each side of the body near the knees. The front of the monument
which is hidden by the seats, had six or seven divisions with
carved figures, but these have been sadly mutilated. The third
figure [plate 140d] is that of a man arrayed in armour, partly
chain and partly plate. The hands are missing but they rested
on the breast; at the feet is an animal, apparently a lion. Angels
supported the head, but they are much damaged. The figure has the
Dinham arms on his surcoat. The front of the tomb has four
divisions, three having demi-figures holding shields.
In a recess, on the south side of the church beneath a window,
will be found the remains of the original position of one or more
of the three figures now on the sills of the north windows. There
is some old glass in the south windows, the subjects being St.
Apollonia and St. Peter. The font is plain granite, octagonal in
shape. In the north porch are preserved the old stocks [plate
140e]; they are interesting as they have holes for the fingers as
well as the usual places for the feet.
The registers date from 1752. "


[2] Testamenta Vetusta, p. 124.


* John P. Ravilious

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