St. Peter & St. Paul Old Brampton - IV

A detail of the monument erected by Gilbert Clarke

Continuing my investigation of the interior of the church of St. Peter and St. Paul in Old Brampton, I had a look at the various monuments and ancient sculptures that are scattered all around the walls of the church. 

A detail of the sculpture of St. Peter

At the west end of the nave, either side of the tower arch, two C13 sculptures depicting St. Peter and St. Paul have been reset into the wall. The Historic England listing states they were originally located on the south wall of the south aisle, presumably along with the similar sculptures that are found on the exterior. 

A detail of the sculpture of St. Paul

To the left hand side of the tower arch, there is the ornate grave slab of Matilda Le Caus, who died c.1225 and who was thought to be part of the family that owned the Manors of Brampton.  It was found buried in the graveyard during the C18 and shows Matilda’s head and shoulders set in a quatrefoil, with her heart in her hands and her feet appearing at the bottom of the slab. 

The grave slab of Matilda De Caus

In the north aisle, there are two large wall monuments, originally placed in the chancel, which commemorate members of the Clarke family of Somersall Hall, who were eminent in Chesterfield from Elizabethan times onward. 

The monument erected by Gilbert Clarke

At the west end there is a large, partially painted alabaster monument, which was erected in 1673 by Gilbert Clarke in memory of ten members of his family who had died during the century. It features crudely carved angels who are pulling back curtains from the central Latin inscription, baskets of fruit, three coats of arms and a pair of skulls and crossbones. 

A detail of the monument erected by Gilbert Clarke

The more restrained Neoclassical monument at the east end of the aisle commemorates Godfrey Clarke (d.1734) and his wife Catherine and is built in various Italian marbles, which would have once looked quite spectacular but have now lost their polish and are very dull.

The memorial to Godfrey Clarke