I thought these two sleeping beauties deserved a post of their own, they are sleeping in the beautiful church of St Mary the Virgin, Wiggenhall St Mary, Norfolk.
The altar monument is in the South Chapel behind an elaborate parclose screen, and is the tomb of Sir Henry Kerville with his wife. Sir Henry died in 1624, below them are two little figures, a young girl and a boy in swaddling clothes, these are their children who died before them. The tomb is made of marble and alabaster, Sir Henry is dressed in his amour, with his Lady, laying side by side with their heads on pillows.
St Mary’s church is up a lane with only the Georgian Old Vicarage and the Hall for company. The church may have been the chapel for the Kerviles at the Hall. In 1800 the Hall built of brick was largely burnt down, but the Tudor gatehouse and stable block survived .
The Kerviles whose name was Norman and had supported William the Conqueror, became extinct in 1624. Sir Henry died childless and must have been the last of his line. I did wonder if they had died of the plague, but I can’t find any information……yet.
A view of the South Chapel with the monument behind the screen.
Echoes of the Past 
Lovely pictures and very interesting history. Thanks for sharing!! I look forward to your postings!
Thank you so much, I am really glad you enjoy them 🙂
Hello, Have just been subscribed to your blog for a few weeks now but have so enjoyed all the recent posts as well as spending time perusing your older entries. Really look forward to each new offering and seeing what interesting places and history you have discovered as well as the evocative photos.
Many thanks for your lovely comments and I am really pleased that other people are getting enjoyment out of something I love doing 🙂
Thank You for this quality report.
You are most welcome, thank you 🙂
Just look at that detailed carved wood!! Such craftsmanship.
Beautiful….all by hand….no laser cut outs here 🙂
Great to see others enjoying the church. Visited there last year with my daughter from Australia, as I come from the Kerville family. Trying to find a link to Sir Henry, no luck with that yet!
Will continue to follow your progress.
Lovely to met you Julie and I love it when something like this happens. Just to think you could be related to Sir Henry is quite some thing and I will try harder with my research now……. as now l have met (in a way) a real Kerville. It is a wonderful church and I think I will return and see if I can get some photos of what remains of the old Hall 🙂