Relhan Collection : 268 Quy church. Brass of John Ansty

Relhan, Richard, 1782-1844

Relhan Collection

<p style='text-align: justify;'><p>1819</p><p>Relhan has drawn this after the model of Warner’s drawings of brasses for Lysons, gold on black but with a plain border. There were symbols of the evangelists at the corners, of which Matthew survives but was ignored by Relhan, and indents for 2 shields and for Joan Ansty. The border was probably as it is today. John Ansty from Fen Ditton held Quy manor in 1428. He had married Joan Trailly, widow of Reynold Trailly, of the family that had held Quy since 1272 and she brought rights to Quy as her dowry. He, his son and grandson, all named John, often served as sheriff, JP and MP for Cambs until the 1470s, and Anstys held Quy manor until 1516. The brass includes Joan (whose effigy was lost by 1880), 12 sons wearing tabards with the arms of Ansty and 4 daughters, kneeling and with arms spread out in prayer. Ansty is shown in contemporary armour with a sword slung in front. The figure is 89cms long, produced in London B style. He is bare-headed with short hair but otherwise heavily armed to his armour-plated shoes, which rest on a hillock. Dowsing 1643 records levelling ‘<i>superstitious inscription of brasse’</i>, but the Catholic prayer <i>orate pro animabu</i> survived in Cole’s day. </p><p>Hill 1880; Cooper 2001; Palmer 1932; RCHME 1972; Rogers in Hicks 1997; VCH 2002</p></p>