Relhan Collection : 249 Longstanton All Saints church. Tomb with recumbent effigies of Sir Thomas Hatton, Kt and Bt. D. 1658, age 75 and Mary...

Relhan, Richard, 1782-1844

Relhan Collection

<p style='text-align: justify;'><p>Sir Thomas Hatton (1583-1658) was MP at different times for Corfe Castle, Malmesbury and Stamford, and an Ambassador to France, 1st Baronet of Longstanton and surveyor general to Queen Henrietta Maria and created Baronet by Charles I in 1641, but he had an undistinguished Parliamentary and non-existent military career, which were both prudent moves at this time. He was the 2nd son of Sir Christopher Hatton of Kirby Hall, Northants and was able to purchase the Hatton estates in Cambridgeshire from his nephew, also Christopher Hatton. Sir Thomas married Mary Alington, daughter of Sir Giles Alington of <a target='_blank' class='externalLink' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseheath'>Horseheath</a>and Lady Dorothy Cecil (<b>221</b>) and it was Mary who ordered this tomb and ensured the design was similar to and equally grand as those of her family in Horseheath church (<b>219</b>, <b>221)</b>. Their sons, <a target='_blank' class='externalLink' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Thomas_Hatton,_2nd_Baronet'>Thomas</a>and Christopher, succeeded their father as baronets in turn. The imposing memorial, with the couple lying side by side, is painted alabaster, with side panels showing 6 of their children kneeling. The tomb was originally built under the W window, was moved to the chapel in 1787 by a later Sir Thomas Hatton, then restored and moved its present location in the S transept in 1887 by RH and E Wood <b>(245</b>).</p><p>Bradley and Pevsner 2014; Palmer 1932; VCH 1989; Wikipedia </p></p>