Walker Monument Approximately 20 Metres South Of Chancel Of Church Of St Andrew

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 05/10/2012

SD 52 SW 119/8/20

LEYLAND CHURCH ROAD Walker monument approx. 20 metres south of chancel of Church of St Andrew

(Formerly listed as Raised slab over grave c.20 metres south of chancel of Church of St.Andrew)

GV II*

Raised monumental slab. Probably 1588. Commemorates William Walker, Clerk of the Parish of Leyland (d.1588). Sandstone. Rectangular slab on low stone base. The surface bears a very unusual life-sized primitive figure drawn with incised line of flowing simplicity, and the margin has a continuous inscription round all 4 sides, beginning at the head:

HEARE LIETH THE BODIE OF WILLIAM WALKER BATCHELOROF MUSICKE OF THIS PARISHE OF LEYLAND FOR THE SPACE OF XXV YEARES AND DYED THE XX APRIL 1588

(the name "Walker" now worn and almost illegible). There are also inscriptions above the head of the figure:

Musica Mentis Medicina Maestae (translation: "Music the Medicine of a Sad Soul"); to the left of the head the initials: B R:C

and below the feet another Latin inscription:

Nulla die sine Linea

(approximate translation: "No day without a purpose"); and left of this the initials:

W.F. Esq

(probably William Farington).

HISTORY: may have connection with Shakespeare, since Shakespeare as a young man is now thought to have been in the households of the Hoghton family of Lea and Hoghton and the Hesketh family of Rufford during the 1580s (ref. E.A.J.Honigman Shakespeare: the 'lost years', Manchester 1985); William Farington of Worden has been suggested as the model for the character of Malvolio in Twelfth Night; and the first line of this play ("If music be the food of love, play on") clearly echoes the first Latin inscription quoted above. NOTE: at the time of this inspection (June 1992), the monument was found to have been seriously disturbed (though not defaced), the slab turned at right angles and pushed off its base.