Monumental Inscriptions from Biddlesden Abbey

The ruins of Biddlesden Abbey were completely demolished in the early 18th century. Fortunately, Browne Willis visted the site prior to this and had the foresight to make a note of some of the memorials. He records his survey in the book "The History and Antiquities of the Town, Hundred and Deanry of Buckingham" as follows:

"In the Chapel lay the broken Effiges which was the Tomb of one of the Lord Zouch's, it was of Alabaster, and in Armour.

But besides the Lord Zouch, there were, as I have seen, several Persons of Note buried here, particularly the Founder's Family, the Bosco's and divers others, as of the Family of the Billings and the Lovetts, as appears by the Inscriptions which I have met with, which were affixt to their Grave Stones, on Brass Plates as follows,

Orate pro Animabus Thomæ Billing quondam Capitalis Justiciarii Domini Regis ad Placita coram ipso Rege tenend et Catherine Uxoris ejus. Dui quidem Thomas obiit 5 die Mensis Maii, A.D. 1481, et dicta Cathrina obiit 8° die Mensis Martii, A.D. 1477. Quorum Animabus propitietur Deus.

Under this Inscription were the Portraits of five Sons and four Daughters.

On another.

Hic jacet Thomas Billing Arm. filius et Heres Thomæ Billings Justiciarii Domini Regis, qui obiit 23 die Mensis Martii, A.D. 1508, Cujus Anime propitietur Deus.

These two Grave-stones were, as I am informed, removed into Wappenham Church. But I suppose their Bodies were left here.

Hic jacet Thomas Lovet Armiger, qui obiit 16 die Mensis Febuarii, 1491 [6 Hen. VII.] Cujus Anime propitietur Deus. Amen

His, viz. Judge Billing's first Wife Catherine was also buried here as I find in his Will, which directs his Body to be buried near her's in this Abbey Church. In his said Will he styles himself Astwell, and gives 6s. 8d. to the Chapel of Fawcott, and 3 Potts of Silver to Susan his Wife, late Wife of John Fawks, one of the Justices of the Common Pleas; and 100l. in Gold to his Son's Thomas and Nicholas, and 100l. in Gold to his Daughters Isabel and Margaret each of them, and some Lands."