Relhan Collection : 320 Trumpington church. Brass of Sir Roger de Trumpington

Relhan, Richard, 1782-1844

Relhan Collection

<p style='text-align: justify;'><p>Lysons</p><p>1800</p><p>Labelled ‘Representaton of the cross legged knight in Trumpington church 1800’, which may suggest that Relhan could perhaps be drawing for the Lysons to engrave. Only the grass on the hillock on which the knight’s feet rest is not identical to the engraved version. The label is in Relhan’s idiom. Lysons describes an altar tomb with Gothic niches and a slab of Purbeck marble with the brass on it. The monument was intended for Sir Giles de Trumpington, but Sir Roger, his son, predeceased him so Sir Giles made the brass (1326), along with a major rebuilding exercise of the church, into his son’s memorial. Sir Roger lies cross-legged in armour that was little changed since the Norman Conquest, a surcoat and broad sword, and chainmail extending from his head to cover his feet, with the Trumpington arms engraved on his sword, shield and ailettes (behind his shoulders), his head resting on his helmet, which is chained to his waist. The lively little dog at his feet is biting the sword. It was once thought to be the oldest brass memorial in England, but was re-dated by Denis Spittle. The brass now lies on a marble base, originally the table tomb for the Pitchard memorial (<b>321</b><i>),</i> protected by glass.</p><p>Heseltine 1981; Lysons 1808; VCH 1982</p></p>