Relhan Collection : 293 Little Shelford church. Monument to Sir John Freville, d. 1312

Relhan, Richard, 1782-1844

Relhan Collection

<p style='text-align: justify;'><p>1808</p><p>Copied from S Lysons</p><p>This effigy is the only monument in Cambs that Samuel Lysons both drew and engraved. Sir John Freville was descended from the de Freville barons of Norfolk, dating back to the Norman Conquest. He attended the royal train at the coronation of Edward II and Isabella in 1308 and was the first in this family to bear arms. He is credited with building the chancel of Little Shelford church, where he is buried, as is his son Richard. Sir John’s monument is oak, a rare example, and shows a full-length cross-legged knight with a lion at his feet, under an ogee arch with richly decorated pinnacles and finials. Various coats of arms under E window include de Frevilles, and Layer records the burial inscriptions for Elena Frevill (1380), Thomas Frevill (1405), Rosa Frevill (1529), William Frevill (1409) and his wives Anna (1400) and Margaret (1400). Quite a few wooden carved effigies survive, for once brightly painted they would look like stone but were easier to carve and transport. Unfortunately they were also easier to move or steal, as happened at Hildersham (341).</p><p>Bell 2013; Bradley and Pevsner 2014; Palmer 1932 </p></p>