Memorial stone

The National Monuments Service's description

Abigail Handcock wall memorial 1680. On the S wall of the nave of the 19th century St Mary's C of I church. Rectangular white marble tablet (dims. Wth 1.26m; H 2m) flanked by black pilasters with free standing white marble columns in front and flanking foliate scroll brackets. The columns support a black marble cornice with a black hour-glass painted on to a red and white marble. The cornice is flanked by scroll brackets and the apex is topped by a covered bowl. An achievement of arms is painted below the tablet which is flanked by white marble scrolls and supported on a black marble pedestal. Heater shaped shield divided per pale with argent, two cocks and a hand in chief sable with argent ermined sable on the dexter while the sinister has three deer's heads or on a bend azure background argent and a crown or on gules in the sinister chief. The motto is VIGILATE ET ORATE and the crest consists of a lion rampant holding a lozenge shaped medallion upon which there is a cock. The inscription is in script with Roman capitals: THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED IN MEMORY OF/ MS ABIGAIL HANDCOCK/ DAUGHTER OF THE REVERnd/ THOMAS STANLEY & LATE WIFE/ OF WILLIAM HANDCOCK OF/ TNYFORD ESQW, BY WHOM HE/ HAD ISSUE 9 SONS & 7 DAUGH/ TERS WHO DEPARTED THIS/ LIFE/ THE 21ST OF NOVbr ANo DOm/ 1680 IN THE 53RD YEAR OF HER/ AGE & LYES INTERRED/ UNDERNEATH THIS PLACE (Bradley et. al. 1985, 42-3).

Compiled by: Rachel Barrett

Date of upload: 15 October 2010

References

Bradley, J., Halpin, A., and King, H. 1985 Urban archaeological survey - county Westmeath. Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.