A damaged sandstone effigy of a knight, probably from the 15th century.

Referring to this effigy Eliot states:

"Next to this tomb, [Thomas de Erdington monument] towards the east, underneath another canopy, there is placed the mutilated effigy of a knight, which was found in the year 1859, under the floor of the seats at the west end of the south aisle. The figure is clothed in plate-armour, and wears a bascinet, but without the chain mail. Its date is apparently that of Henry VI.'s reign, and it may probably have belonged to the stone effigy of a lady, under the canopy, on the north side of the chancel [on the Arden monument?] described above.* No record, however, exists which leads to any knowledge of the person, to perpetuate whose memory it was erected.

*Mr. Carter has no hesitation in identifying this monument as that of Sir William Harcourt, knight, who, by his will dated 1481, and proved 1494, desired to be buried in the parish church of Aston-juxta-Birmingham, and he thinks the armour represents that which he wore when a young man, much earlier in the century.

I have no idea, yet, who Mr Carter is.

(12Jul2009)