A place for history... - Sheffield Cathedral

A place for
history...
Shrewsbury and Lady Chapels
Tudor Monuments & Green Men
The Tudor Monuments
In the 16 th century the Lords of the Manor of Sheffield were the Earls
of Shrewsbury. About the year 1520, George, 4 th Earl of Shrewsbury had
a chantry chapel, the Shrewsbury Chapel, built on the south side of the
Sanctuary of the parish church. The chapel had a crypt beneath for family
burials. Its building extended the area of the earlier Lady Chapel.
The monuments in this chapel have been described by the 19th century
historian Joseph Hunter as being among the finest in the land.
The monument on the north side of the chapel supports three effigies: that of
the 4th Earl (died 1538) and those of his two Countesses: Ann, who died in the
early 16th century, and Elizabeth (died 1567). In accordance with the Earl’s
specific wishes, Elizabeth had this table tomb erected in her lifetime.
The alabaster figures, intended to be portraits, are beautifully
carved, and were originally coloured (as was the effigy of
the 6th Earl by the south wall of the chapel). They may have
been made by Italian sculptors or by Nottingham
alabaster workers in the Italian style.

The Earl is robed as a Knight of the Garter. His feet rest on a Talbot (a
medieval hunting dog). Since the surname of the Shrewsbury family
was Talbot, this dog featured in the heraldic devices for the family. A
Talbot may be seen carved on one of the Earl’s rings. Talbots are also
in attendance around both the monuments in this chapel.
The two Countesses, their feet on angels, are richly dressed with their
coronets and robes decorated with armorial bearings. The Purbeck
marble tomb chest on which the effigies rest is also impressively
carved, originally having brasses engraved with the Talbot heraldic
quarterings.
Against the south wall of the chapel is the massive alabaster monument to George,
6th Earl of Shrewsbury (died 1590). He was the husband of the formidable Bess of
Hardwick, and custodian of Mary, Queen of Scots, during her 14 years of imprisonment
in Sheffield (1570-1584). The Earl showed concern for the administration of his
Sheffield estates, and for the protection of the growing cutlery industry. He signed the
first recorded ordinances for the regulation of the cutlery trade.
On the monument the Earl is represented lying
on a rush mat, on a lofty sarcophagus, wearing
elaborately engraved armour with his feet on a
Talbot. The inscription, written in accordance
with the Earl’s wishes, records his faithful military
and diplomatic service during the reigns of Mary I
and Elizabeth I and his integrity as the custodian
of Mary, Queen of Scots.
The Talbot heraldic quarterings, with the crest
and Garter belt, are seen on this monument and
are also displayed on the heraldic achievements
in the light well of the 1554 Gallery of the
Cathedral Community Resource Centre.
To the right of the monument hang three helmets
which may be the ones which rested on the
Earl’s coffin at his funeral. There are also
some ornamental symbols of war, representing
the Earl’s military career. Note the Talbot
family motto: ‘Prest d’accomplir’ - ‘Ready to
accomplish’.

The Earl’s death is recorded in the parish church register and his funeral here was
described as a most splendid and impressive occasion for the town of Sheffield.
In the Shrewsbury Chapel is an outstanding example of a pre-Reformation mensa
(altar). Behind this is an alabaster reredos erected in 1935 at the time of the restoration
of the Chapel. The figures represent the Crucifixion of Christ and the saints of the
chapels whose altars stood in the medieval church.
The Shrewsbury Chapel remained the private property of the Dukes of Norfolk, Roman
Catholics, who had gained the Sheffield inheritance through marriage with the last
Shrewsbury heiress. Thus there was an anomaly: a Roman Catholic chapel in an
Anglican church, albeit unused for 300 years. In 1933, the Duke of Norfolk presented
the Shrewsbury Chapel to the Cathedral ‘for the use of the parishioners’.
Originally an oak Tudor screen (now situated near the Window of the Six Sheffield
Worthies) separated the Shrewsbury Chapel from the Lady Chapel.
Green Man Imagery
The ceiling bosses of the Shrewsbury Chapel and the adjoining Lady Chapel include
both Christian and pre-Christian carvings. It has been suggested that the roof carvings
of the Lady Chapel probably date from the mid 15th century
and were the work of local craftsmen, influenced by the
ancient sacred forests of Sherwood, Rivelin and Barnsdale
which surrounded Sheffield.
There is the Tree of Life above the altar. The Lamb and Flag,
a symbol of the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus, is the
only obvious Christian carving among those on the roof of the
Lady Chapel. This symbol also has associations with John the
Baptist, whose festival on 24th June falls near Midsummer-day,
“the pagan festival on whose morning sunrise the Lady Chapel
itself was orientated”.

The Green Man is a face surrounded by or made from
leaves. The Sheela-na-gig is a carving of a female figure,
usually grotesque and sometimes comical, representing the
goddess of fertility. Such imagery has featured in English
church architecture since Norman times, with pagan themes,
celebrating the creativity and fertility of nature.
On the south wall of the Lady Chapel is a 13th century stone
which must have been the ‘Scratch Dial’ or ‘Mass clock’ of the
old parish church. It was originally on the outside of the south
wall, and is a primitive sundial. It was used by people to tell
the time of the next service. It was probably brought in from
the south facing wall during the rebuilding of this part of the
15th century church.
In this area are many fascinating memorials to Sheffield
people. For many, life was hard and short lived.
We hope you have enjoyed your visit to Sheffield Cathedral. There are many more interpretative
leaflets available, detailing specific aspects of our building and its heritage. There is also a
detailed and beautifully illustrated guidebook, available to buy at the west end or from reception.
Please come back again soon.
If you would like to arrange a guided tour of the Cathedral please contact staff at the
Cathedral reception on 0114 2753434 or enquiries@sheffield-cathedral.org.uk
www.sheffieldcathedral.org
Text: Margaret Garner & Gill MacGregor, Volunteer Guide Welcomers
Design: HERITAGE INSPIRED: south yorkshire’s faith tourism initiative
© The Friends of Sheffield Cathedral