Church of St Michael and All Angels, Thornhill [Map]

Church of St Michael and All Angels, Thornhill is in Thornhill.

Assorted monuments, interior and exterior of Church of St Michael and All Angels, Thornhill [Map]

The Fluted Period is characterised by effigies being bare-headed with no facial hair, with a Standard protecting the neck, and with a two piece breast-plate. It commencesa round 1460 and ends around 1530. It is sometimes described as the Yorkist Period, commencing when the Yorkist reign commenced, although it applies to both Yorkists and Lancastrians.

Portraits generic bar changes in hair length, and the occasional detail such as hair curls. Especially when compared to the work of later sculptors such as Chantrey, Roubiliac, Nollekens, Westmacott, etc who had access to images of the deceased and whose work clearly shows differences in faces. Gardner in his 1939 book "Alabaster Tombs of the Pre-Reformation Period in England", page 24, states "Portraiture: In seeking to identify the figures on the tombs with actual persons it must be borne in mid that portraiture, in the modern sense of the word, can hardly be said to have existed in medieval times. It is possibly that here and there some attempt to conform to the general type of the person represented, especially in the case of kings or very great people, but the images seem to have paid far greater attention to costume and armour, to badges of rank or fashionable head-dress than to the actual features of the deceased. ... If we look through a series of photographs we cannot fail to notice how they all conform to the fashionable type of the period." Ray State in his 2017 book "The Alabaster Carvers", page 38, states "Most medieval effigies were not portraits. They were not the work of incompetent masons but were intended to represent types. A man in armour of the finest sort with a wife dressed in accordance with the fashion of the period made a statement. In fact, costume was all important." Tobias Capwell in his 2015 book "Armour of the English Knight 1400-1450", pages 36-37, has an interesting discussion about whether effigies were portraits drawing attention to some examples that appear to be, and that some of the effigies were painted which may have allowed for additional detail ... "The point is that while the face may seem to lack individual personality, the armour does not. Perhaps it is not a portrait of a face, but it most certainly is a portrait of an armour." Capwell also quotes Saul's book of 2009 page 143, which I don't have, "it goes without saying that medieval effigies were not portraits." Capwell concludes "Perhaps therefore we may consider the military effigy to have been intended as a portrait of the armour, if not the man inside."

The photos are of a harness based on the effigy at Church of St Michael and All Angels, Thornhill [Map] commissioned by Mark Dowling from armourer Fred Ryall. Photos by permission of Mark Dowling.

1482. Monument at Church of St Michael and All Angels, Thornhill [Map]. Some discussion as to whose monument it is. Some say it is John Savile of Thornhill (age 75) and his wife Alice Gascoigne (age 66). Others say Thomas Savile and Margaret Pilkington which appears to early but monuments sometimes erected long after the death of its subjects.

Alabaster chest tomb. Possibly York School of Carving. Similarities with the monuments at All Saints Church Harewood [Map] which are also Gascoigne, Church of St Helen and the Holy Cross Sheriff Hutton [Map] and Church of St Oswald, Methley [Map]. Suns and Roses Collar. Lion of March Pendant. Maidens Head Crest from Thornhill family; the Savile family obtained Thorhill through marriage.

1529. Oak tomb chest, formerly under a four-poster canopy, with effigies to John Savile of Thornhill and his two wives, Alice Vernon and Elizabeth Paston (age 63) at Church of St Michael and All Angels, Thornhill [Map].

John Savile of Thornhill: Around 1464 he was born to John Savile and Joan Harrington. Around 1493 John Savile of Thornhill and Alice Vernon were married. No issue. In or before 1499 John Savile of Thornhill and Elizabeth Paston were married. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward III of England. On 07 Jan 1508 John Savile of Thornhill died.

Alice Vernon: Around 1465 she was born to William Vernon. In 1499 Alice Vernon died.

Elizabeth Paston: Around 1466 she was born to William Paston and Anne Beaufort. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward III of England. Before 13 Jan 1542 Elizabeth Paston died.

After 1614 monument to George Savile (age 31) and his wife Anne Wentworth (age 23) at Church of St Michael and All Angels, Thornhill [Map].

George Savile: In 1583 he was born to George Savile 1st Baronet and Mary Talbot at Thornhill. In or before 1611 George Savile and Anne Wentworth were married. On 24 Aug 1614 George Savile died.

Anne Wentworth: In 1591 she was born to William Wentworth 1st Baronet and Anne Atkins Baroness Wentworth Woodhouse. On 30 Jul 1633 Anne Wentworth died.

After 1622. Monument to George Savile 1st Baronet (age 72) at Church of St Michael and All Angels, Thornhill [Map]. Possibly sculpted by Maximilian Colt (age 47).

After 1743. Monument to either George Savile 7th Baronet (age 64) or George Savile 8th Baronet (age 16) at Church of St Michael and All Angels, Thornhill [Map] by Fisher of York.

George Savile 8th Baronet: On 18 Jul 1726 he was born to George Savile 7th Baronet and Mary Pratt. On 16 Sep 1743 George Savile 7th Baronet died. His son George Savile 8th Baronet succeeded 8th Baronet Savile of Thornhill. On 09 Jan 1784 George Savile 8th Baronet died. He was buried at Church of St Michael and All Angels, Thornhill. Baronet Savile of Thornhill extinct.

After 16 Sep 1743. Monument to George Savile 7th Baronet (deceased) by William Barlow at Church of St Michael and All Angels, Thornhill [Map].

On 09 Jan 1784 George Savile 8th Baronet (age 57) died. He was buried at Church of St Michael and All Angels, Thornhill [Map]. Baronet Savile of Thornhill extinct.

After 09 Jan 1784. Grave slab to George Savile 8th Baronet (deceased) at Church of St Michael and All Angels, Thornhill [Map].

On 17 Jul 1818 Richard Henry Liulphus Savile (age 17) died. He was buried at Church of St Michael and All Angels, Thornhill [Map].

After 17 Jul 1818. Grave slab and monument by Fisher of York to Richard Henry Liulph Lumley at Church of St Michael and All Angels, Thornhill [Map].

1931. Monument to John Savile Lumley-Savile 2nd Baron Savile (age 77). Originally a christening font. At Church of St Michael and All Angels, Thornhill [Map].

John Savile Lumley-Savile 2nd Baron Savile: On 20 Sep 1853 he was born to Reverend Frederick Savile-Lumley. In 1888 John Savile 1st Baron Savile was created 1st Baron Savile of Rufford in Nottinghamshire with a special remainder to his nephew John Savile Lumley-Savile 2nd Baron Savile who subsequently inherited the title. On 28 Nov 1896 John Savile 1st Baron Savile died. His nephew John Savile Lumley-Savile 2nd Baron Savile succeeded 2nd Baron Savile of Rufford in Nottinghamshire. On 03 Apr 1931 John Savile Lumley-Savile 2nd Baron Savile died.

Early Medieval Period monument to Sir John de Thornhill c.1260-1322. The face appears to have been replaced at sometime. Church of St Michael and All Angels, Thornhill [Map]