talk report - MARCH 2008
26 March 2008: The Identities of the Effigies in the Derby Chapel, Ormskirk Parish Church - Mrs Jean Gidman
Mrs Gidman gave us an interesting talk about her researches into the two male effigies in the Derby Chapel. These had been identified by the Rev. James Bromley in 1906 as representing Thomas Stanley 1st Earl of Derby, who was buried at Burscough Priory in 1504, and Edward 3rd Earl of Derby who was buried in the High Chancel of Ormskirk Parish Church in 1572. However using the heraldry on the carved surcoats on the effigies she had come to the conclusion that the effigies were actually those of Thomas Stanley, 1st Lord Stanley who died in 1455 and was buried at Burscough Priory and Thomas 1st Earl of Derby who died in 1504. Mrs Gidman illustrated this point with photographs of all the heraldic shields relating to the period of all three possible effigies to illustrate how she reached her conclusion. She then continued to talk about the two female effigies with suggestions as to who they could be and concluded that they were of Lady Margaret Beaufort second wife of the 1st Earl who died in 1509 mil is buried in Westminster Abbey and either Lady Eleanor Neville, first wife of the 1st Earl or that of his mother Joan Goushill.