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#MementoMoriMonday The double-sided tomb of two generations of Saviles, part in the chancel of St Michael, Thornhill, part in the Savile Chapel. Here, Sir Gerge Savile, 2nd Baronet d.1626 reclines with a warning skull.
On the Savile chapel side, his brother, Sir William Savile, 3rd Baronet d.1644, kneels and regards the tombs of his ancestors. These crowd the available space constructed in 1447 by the not-yet-enobled Thomas Savile and enlarged in 1493 by William Savile.
Above lie their parents in effigy - Anne Wentworth d.1633 & Sir George Savile d.1614, probably constituting the original tomb, with sons added later. Above is much splendour in stone, and here we get to the good stuff with abundant heraldry #OwlishMonday #TinyLions
And now for the piece de resistance! At Sir George's feet lies his helm, the owl crest having vividly come to plump, feathered life #OwlishMonday
In the tower is this mural memorial to Sir Thomas Radcliffe d.1679. It's attributed to Grinling Gibbons & Arnold Quellin, & is described by Pevsner as "a very fine gadrooned sarcophagus with putti & drapery" You can't miss the fabulous winged skull #MementoMoriMonday.
Back in the chancel, another mural monument, this one to Sir George Savile, the 8th Baronet d1784. Elegant and well-detailed in different coloured marbles, it bears the Savile owl posed dramatically with a skull. #OwlishMonday #MementoMoriMonday
