Red sandstone monument of Thomas Lord Morley (d.1435) in St Andrew's church, Hingham.
It was commissioned by Robert de Morley (Thomas Lord Morley’s son) and his wife Elizabeth de Roos. Most of the heads have been defaced due to the Reformation iconoclasm which started during the reign of Anglican monarch Henry VIII.
It is described by Pevsner as:
‘The Morley monument against the chancel wall is one of the most impressive wall monuments of the C15 in the whole of England. It commemorates Thomas Lord Morley (d.1435) but, according to the heraldry, it must have been made somewhat later.’ The tomb chest is decorated with the family coat of arms, and at one time with brasses. At the back, against a curving wall, members of the family kneel in prayer, while others can be seen at the sides. The figures are dwarfed by the huge arch rising the full height of the chancel, to a canopy with Christ seated and holding an orb and seated in judgement flanked by the much smaller Lord Thomas and Lady Isabel Morley. The frame and decoration recall Woderofe’s Erpingham Gate in Norwich (
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"Thomas de Morley, 5th Baron Morley (1393–1435) was a baron in the Peerage of England, Lord of the manors of Morley, Hingham, Hockering, &c., in Norfolk, de jure Lord Marshall, hereditary Earl Marshal of Ireland, and a Privy Councillor. His parents were Sir Robert de Morley, Knt. (circa 1375 - before 12 November 1403), d.v.p. (son of Thomas de Morley, 4th Baron Morley by first wife Joan de Hastings) and Isabel de Molines (who were married before August 1394).
He was born at Hingham, Norfolk, and was present at the Battle of Agincourt, where he served as a Commander under the indenture of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester.
Thomas was married before 5 February 1402/1403 to Lady Isabel de la Pole (Suffolk, 1395 - 8 February 1466/1467), daughter of Michael de la Pole, 2nd Earl of Suffolk, and Lady Katherine de Stafford, daughter of Hugh de Stafford, 2nd Earl of Stafford, and Lady Philippa de Beauchamp.
They had the following children:
Anne de Morley (1413 - 1471) After 21 April 1434, she became the wife of Sir John Hastings, 9th Baron Hastings de jure (Elsing, Norfolk, 1410 - Elsing, Norfolk, 9 April 1477, buried Gressenhall, Norfolk), Constable of Norwich Castle in 1441 and Sheriff of Norfolk from 1474 to 1475, and had seven children.
Robert de Morley (1418 - 1443) Succeeded his father as 6th Baron Morley
Hugh de Morley
Elizabeth de Morley She was the first wife Sir John (or Thomas) Arundell of Lanherne, Cornwall, who served in France during the reign of King Henry VI, son of John Arundell and Margaret Burgersh, and had one daughter."
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