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Cadeleigh

from

Some Old Devon Churches

By J. Stabb

London: Simpkin et al (1908-16)

Page 49

Transcribed and edited by Dr Roger Peters

Full text available at

https://www.wissensdrang.com/dstabb.htm

Prepared by Michael Steer

Between 1908 and 1916, John Stabb, an ecclesiologist and photographer who lived in Torquay, published three volumes of Some Old Devon Churches and one of Devon Church Antiquities. A projected second volume of the latter, regarded by Stabb himself as a complement to the former, did not materialize because of his untimely death on August 2nd 1917, aged 52. Collectively, Stabb's four volumes present descriptions of 261 Devon churches and their antiquities.

CADELEIGH St. Bartholomew. The church is principally worthy of notice for the magnificent monument of Sir Simon Leach, which stands at the east end of the north aisle [plate 49]. Sir Simon and his wife rest on an altar tomb beneath a lofted canopy supported by Corinthian pillars. At the top of the canopy is a coat of arms, on each side of which are cherubs; in the right spandrel of the arch is a figure of Time with his scythe, in the left spandrel is the naked figure of a boy; the ceiling of the canopy is divided into squares, and from the centre of each square hang pendants. Over the compartments at the head and feet of the principal figures are coats of arms, and female figures on pedestals. Behind Sir Simon and his wife is a tablet with an inscription, with figures of small naked boys on each side, and a clothed figure on top of the tablet. In the left hand compartment, at the head of the principal figures, kneels the statue of a man with long hair, arrayed in plate armour, his left hand grasping the hilt of his sword; in the right hand compartment kneels a female figure with kerchief on her head, arrayed in tight-fitting bodice with lace collar, and long full dress. In front of the monument, at the base, before a prie-dieu in the centre, kneel nine figures; four males on the left side and five females on the right. There are inscriptions on the tomb in Latin, of which the following is a translation:- Bowed down by the fate of my wife I am
going to her tomb, her partner in life, in
death I will be her comrade.

 

Walter Leach Soldier
Son and Heir of Simon
Leach Soldier.
predeceased him.

Simon Leach son and heir of
Walter Leach a zealous supporter
of King Charles ii. when in exile,
died deeply regretted June 25th
A.D. 1660.
                  "Stay dear Father my sands
have run now quickly in
order that I may be able to be
the bearer of your prayers."

Sir Simon Leach
Knight of the Bath
son of Simon
Leach Esq.
1708.

"L'o a third generation follows
yet second was he to none
distinguished for his discretion
distinguished also for his talent."

On the central tablet in English is the inscription:- Here lye the
bodyes of Sr. Simon
Leach Knight, Son of Symon
Leach of Credition Blacksmith
And of ye lady Catherine Leach
his wife, Daughter of Nicholas
Turbeville of Credition, Esq
Whose true affection in Reli
gious wedlock caused there desire
to make there bed together in the dust.

 

The whole monument is carved in white Beer stone with Devonshire marble pillars and enrichments, and is a handsome specimen of monumental sculpture of the Jacobean period [ca. 1603-1625]. The monument has been restored and on the left panel is the inscription:- This monument was restored by public
subscription in 1903. Rev. W. French, Rector.

From Sir Simon Leach's will it appears he erected this monument in memory of his second wife Katherine who had predeceased him. He appointed one of his sons, Nicholas, and A.Y. . . to be his executors. The will was proved on April 8th 1637, and in 1651 administration was granted to his grandson, Simon Leach.

Sir Simon married twice:- 1st, Elizabeth, daughter of Walter Burrough of Exeter, by whom he had two children, both of whom survived him (Sir Walter and a boy who died young); 2nd, Katherine, daughter of Nicholas Turbeville of Crediton (in whose honour he erected the monument), by her he had three sons (youngest Simon) and four daughters.

Sir Simon Leach secured the office of Sheriff of Devon in the year of Charles I accession [1625], and was knighted at Ford Abbey, near Axminster, on September 26th 1625 by the King. His son was knighted at Whitehall [London] on December 3rd 1626.

Sir Simon Leach died in 1637 and was succeeded by his grandson, Simon, aged 5 years. This Simon married Bridget, daughter of Sir Bevil Grenville, the great Royalist, killed at Lansdowne [1643]. Simon died in 1660, aged 28, leaving two children, a boy named Simon, who succeeded him, and a daughter, Bridget. The third Simon was made Knight of the Bath in 1661. Bridget Leach's second husband was Sir Thomas Higgons, and she lies buried in Cadeleigh Church. This splendid monument commemorates four generations of the Leach family who lived during the reigns of James I [1603-1625], Charles I [1625-1649], the Commonwealth [1649-1659], Charles II [1660-1685], James II [1685-1688], William III [1689-1702], and Anne [1702-1714]. The following inscription was on top of the present inscription on the monument of Bridget Higgons till 1900, when the Rev. Prebendary Granville had it cleaned off and the old inscription restored by Mr. Hems of Exeter:- In Memory
of ye Lady Bridget
Higons Daughter of
Ye Hon Bevill Gra
nvill Baronet, First
wife of Simon Leach
Esq, Mother of ye Hon Sr
Simon Leach Knight of
Ye Bath afterwards
Ye wife and Relict of
Sr Thomas Higons
Knight
Died ye 7th day of March
1691

The present inscription is as follows in Latin:- Sacred to the Memory
-----------
Stay thy foot-------- Reader
May the earth, I pray be light
It is no common dust on which you tread
But the revered ashes
of Lady Bridget Higgons
Under many names worthy of your respect
She was the daughter
Of the famous Bevill Granville
Knight and true Cavalier
The sister
of the Most Illustrious Earl of Bath
The Wife
of the noble Simon Leach Esq
The Mother
of Simon Leach Knight of the Most Noble Order
of the Bath ------- lastly
The Wife and Relict
of Thomas Higgons Knight
A splendid example of high birth and distinguished character
How she --- who was all this --- is ashes only
Awaiting
On Earth the Resurrection-in Heaven her Reward
--------------------
She died on the 7th day of March aged 62
In the year of Salvation 1691

In 1903 two life-size figures of St. Bartholomew, to whom the church is dedicated, were discovered plastered over on the tower, one on the south side, the other on the north, about 40 ft. from the base of the tower. Query: were they plastered over in the time of the Commonwealth [1649-1659] to prevent them from being destroyed?

The church dates from the early part of the 15th century.

The registers date: baptisms, 1665; marriages, 1725; burials, 1725.