English: Washbourne monument, St.Lawrence's Church, Wichenford, Worcs. On the north side of the chancel is an altar tomb with two effigies in 17th-century armour, one on the slab and one beneath it. Behind are two female figures kneeling in recesses, with a classic cornice and ornament above crudely coloured and gilt. An inscription records that John Washbourne at the age of eighty-four built the monument for himself (the upper figure), his two wives Mary Savage and Eleanor Lygon, and his father Anthony (the lower figure).
There are four shields, the centre and highest one of the Washbourne arms. Below this is a shield quarterly of Washbourne quartered with Poer and Dabitot. To the west is a shield of these arms impaling the six lions of Savage. To the east is the same impaling the two lions passant of Lygon.
Thomas Habington gives us an early 1600s description of the interior.
- “In the North side of the chancel is an ancient tomb of alabaster on the ground. Upon it was delineated a man armed, all but his head, under which lyeth his helmet with a wreath and thereon a flame of fire; at his feet a lion. On his right hand his wife with a little dog at her feet. Between them the Washbourne’s arms impaling a chevron.
The inscription on the edge face of the stone:
- "Hic jacunt Corpora Johannis Washbourne .... Armigeri .... & Margeriae Powere uxoris sua. Necnon et Elizabeth uxoris ....* ... ... de Bradley in Com. Derbia qui obiit 13 Mai 1454"
- This tomb sheweth the match of Washborn with Poher’s co-heiress, which brought the name of Washbourne first into Wichenford.”
- “On the south side of the chancel there is another monument of alabaster on the ground also in the same Fashion, a man armed as before with the wife on the right hand; the arms much defaced but still so discernable as to shew the arms of the Washbournes
The inscription:
- "Hic iacet Johannies Washborne Armr filius et Hieres Normanni Washborne Armigeri, qui quidem filius obiit die mensis AD ****".
Monument at St. Laurence Church in Wichenford, for John Washborne Esquire, Sheriff of Worcestershire, who had married both Mary Savage and Eleanor Lygon, and for his father Anthony Washborne Esquire of Wichenford Court. This main branch of the family were usually styled "of Washbourne and Wichenford", and the direct male line ceased with William Washbourne, Esq., of Wichenford and Pytchley. These Arms are the same as those uncovered from the old St. Peters (Evesham Abbey c. 1400's), and also as recorded in Papworth's Armorials and Burke's General Armory.