Fragments from the effigy and chantry of Bishop Sheppey and other fragments, 13th-14th centuries
/Robert Stevens, Dean of Rochester 1820-1870, records the discovery of the monument and the effigy of Bishop John de Sheppey (1352-1360) and other fragments on the demolition of two walls in the North Quire Transept on the 15th of January 1825. Extract from Dean Steven’s notebook.
It appears that he was consecrated Bishop of this See in March 1352; that he was appointed Chancellor of England in 1356 and that he died in 1360 in the 34th year of the reign of Edward the Third.
This effigy, together with the fragments which are now fixed up on the otherside, were enclosed by a double wall, for the purpose, no doubt, of concealment, and nost probably at the time of the Reformation. There, might it not have been in the year 1559, just before Elizabeth issued her proclamation against destroying monuments etc.?
It seems more than probable, that Bishop Sheppheie was buried and his effigy fixed up in sone other part of the Cathedral; as the monument and chamber of the tomb, whore the officy now lios, are not of the character and style of sculpture according with those of the age in which he died.
When the effigy was discovored it was lying in a rather slanting direction upon two cross iron bars and upon the rubble with which the chamber of the tomb was filled. On removing the rubble partially from one end of the chamber, it was found that the coffin was there.
As this rubble was evidently thrown in at the time when the concealment took place it should perhaps have been removed; but fearing that curiosity would go too far I forbad such removal and instantly ordered a new slab to be placed upon the chamber which was effected with the utmost possible despatch; and thus the sanctuary of the dead was secured from intrusion.
An iron railing, which stood in front of the recess to the East of the North Entrance of the Church, was removed from thence and set up before the effigy of Bishop Shepphie for its protection.
The little figure of Moses and some of the other fragments were found anidst the rubble under the canopy of the monument; part of the Bishop's mitre and of his hands and other fragments were found amidst the rubble above the canopy.
That the concealment of this effigy and of these fragments must have been effected by friends, there can, I conceive, be little doubt; and yet, though extraordinary fear and haste might have occasioned the careless and disorderly manner in which they were throw in, it does appear difficult to account for the quantity of stones and chalk and mortar that was thrown in with them to the great injury of the sculpture, especially when there seems to have been no necessity for the insertion of this rubbish, as the walls built up on each side sufficiently concealed from the public eye what was deposited within. What friends should take such pains to injure what they wished to preserve is certainly unaccountable.
As the colouring of the Effigy (which was in most parts quite perfect, though at the most prominent parts entirely rubbed off by the rubble) was likely, now that it was exposed to the action of light and air, to fade and peel of, it was judged advisable by the Architect to provent this effect if possible by means of a little varnish, or by some process that might be recommended by a porson well skilled in these matters.
Unfortunately on artist was sent down from London, who, either not understanding or disobeying his instructiom, proceeded to rocolour the effigy. Neithor the Architect nor myself was at Rochestor at the time.
A day or two, hovever, after the mischief was done I came to Rochestor; and perceiving it I immediately wrote to the Architect and told his what was done. He instantly ciule doin, and fortunately suceeded in almost entirely removing the mischief, so that the whole of the colouring which was visible when the effigy was discovered, appears to my eye nearly the same as it was before it was touched. The only difference is it appears a little more vivid; and those prominent parts of the effigy, from which the colouring was rubbed off entirely, are repainted.
The monument of Archdeacon Warner, which had been fixed up in the year 1679 or the year following, against the inner wall that concealed Bishop Sheppheie's effigy etc., was taken down and removed to the farther end of the Chapel, near that of Bishop Warner. Mr. Lee Warner, the present representative of the family was, out of courtesy, written to upon the subject of the removal; and he readily assented to the intentions of the Chapter.
Robert Stevens
Dean of Rochester 1820-1870
