Church of St Michael The Archangel, Framlingham - Howard Family Monuments - Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey

Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey

Before his own death in 1613 Henry Howard, 1st Earl of Northampton, Surrey’s youngest son made arrangements for his father’s and mother's remains to be removed to Framlingham and this monument portraying them both to be erected in 1614. The Latin inscription refers to Surrey as being the son of the Second Duke which is technically correct as after the battle of Bosworth the Dukedom was rendered extinct and the Second Duke became the First Duke of the new creation.

The tomb chest is not a religious example but rather extolling the virtues of its subjects. His 2 sons kneel at the foot end. At the head end are Howard's 3 daughters:

• Jane, who wears a coronet
• in the centre is Katherine who married Henry Berkeley, 7th Baron Berkeley
• Margaret who married Henry Scrope, 9th Baron Scrope of Bolton (1534–1592).

By about 1976 the whole monument was subsiding in the centre and the ends collapsing in on itself. The restoration was entrusted to John Green and the monument was duly cleaned and restored to its full brilliance. It was when it was being cleaned that Mr Green found the dowell holes next to Surrey’s calf where there once was a coronet (not worn, since he died in disgrace). A new coronet was made of lead casting with large fish weights for the baubles, the whole thing was then painted, gilded, and placed in position.