Relhan Collection : 309 Teversham, church. Monument of Edward Steward Esq, died 1596 and Margery his wife enclosed in wrought iron railings

Relhan, Richard, 1782-1844

Relhan Collection

<p style='text-align: justify;'><p>Labelled ‘Representation of the Monument of Edward Steward Esq. And Margery his Wife in Teversham Church Cambridgeshire Erected by Thomas Jermy Esq. Of Brightwell in Suffolk’.This monument shows the recumbent effigies of Edward Steward, 2nd son of Sir Robert Symon Styward, a younger brother of Robert Steward (<b>153</b>) and a relation, perhaps cousin or nephew, of Mark Steward (<b>155</b>), and his wife Margaret/Margery, daughter and heiress of Sir Richard Kirby of Cambridge. Kirby was notorious for clearing much of Landbeach parish for sheep pasture, while Matthew Parker, rector of Landbeach, Master of Corpus Christi and later Archbishop of Canterbury, dragged him through the highest courts in the land to try, unsuccessfully, to protect them. The tomb was set up by Edward and Margery’s daughter and heiress Joan and her husband Thomas Jermy (<b>307</b>). It is reminiscent of the magnificent tomb of Mark Steward in Ely Cathedral, but of lower quality (‘indifferent quality’ according to Bradley and Pevsner). It is made of alabaster and other marbles and carved with 14 coats of arms along the sides, celebrating powerful family connections in Cambs, Norfolk and Suffolk. Edward is dressed in Greenwich armour but has no weapons or helmet, is bare-headed, has a short beard and moustache and lies on a woven reed mat. Margery has her head on an embroidered cushion, wears a gown with a full skirt over a farthingale, and a ruff. Relhan drew it with bright colours, but no colour survives. Originally it stood at E end of the N aisle but was moved in 1863, with its contemporary iron railing, to W end of the S aisle. Here it remains, but unfortunately this area is used for general storage and is dark and virtually inaccessible, so it is hard to see detail and only 2 sides are at all visible. There is ancient damage, especially to hands and feet, as seen at Fulbourn, and much general wear and tear. Fragments of the rails are stored in the same area (2020). Cole 1744 described it as a ‘<i>very noble and magnificent tomb of all kinds of marble’, </i>which included alabaster. See RCHME for coats of arms etc carved around the monument.</p><p>Bell 2013; Bradley and Pevsner 2014; RCHME 1972; VCH 2002</p></p>