The De Grey Mausoleum Adjoining Church Of St John The Baptist

FLITTON TL 0435 HIGH STREET (North Side)

14/10 The De Grey Mausoleum 23.1.61 adjoining Church of Saint John the Baptist

GV I

Mausoleum. Built 1614 by Henry Grey 5th Earl of Kent, owner of Wrest Park, Silsoe. Extended 1705 to E by Henry Earl of Kent. Structure encased in colourwashed cement render, with brick coping to embattled parapets and shaped gables. Slate roofs. Cruciform plan, encasing the N and E elevations of the chancel of the Parish Church of Saint John the Baptist (item No. 14/9). W block, to N of chancel, is original structure. Externally rather plain, with recessed panels articulating many elevations. W block has 2 3-light windows under flat heads to N elevation, the E one blocked. Interior architecturally plain.

Monuments include the following: - Henry Grey, 5th Earl of Kent, d.1614. Polychromed alabaster 2 recumbant figures on tomb chest.

• Lady Elizabeth Talbot 1653. Polychrome marble wall monument with Ionic columns, open segmental pediment and garlands.

• Henry Grey, 9th Earl of Kent, erected 1658. White, black and grey marble. 2 effigies on tomb chest, with 2 Mannerist allegorical female figures to back panel.

• Lady Jane Hart, d. 1673. Polychrome marble. Semi-reclining figure. Monument surmounted by open pediment with shield and garlands.

• Pair of monuments to Henrietta de Grey d. 1716 and Henry de Grey d. 1717. Grey and white marble. Semi-reclining figures flanked by urns, in front of steep garlanded pyramids.

• Anthony de Grey, Earl of Harrold. 1726 by Dowyer. Black, white and grey marble. Large sarcophagus surmounted by semi-reclining figure in Roman military dress.

• Henry de Grey, Duke of Kent, and 2 wives, 1740. Black, white and grey marble. Designed by Edward Shepherd. Central sarcophagus surmounded by semi-relining figure of Duke (thought to be by Rysbrack). To R, semi-reclining figure of first wife. 3 inscription panels.

• Philip, Earl of Hardwicke, d. 1790. Grey and white marble, by Banks. Seated mourning woman with urn, in front of obelisk.

• Henrietta Frances, Countess de Grey, d. 1848. Black and white marble. 1853 by Terence Farrell. Obelisk-shaped relief showing mourning family around draped coffin, with soul being carried to heaven by angel.

• Thomas Philip de Grey, Lord Lucas, d. 1859. Grey and white marble. By Matthew Noble. Recumbant effigy on tomb chest.

The De Grey Mausoleum contains one of the finest series of funerary momuments in the country.

Listing NGR: TL0595335864