Castlemartin Effigy
The Castlemartin effigy, almost certainly that of Sir Thomas, viv. 1437, Portlester’s brother, originally lay on an altar tomb placed over a vault in the centre of the little chapel. The vault still contains eleven skeletons but the tomb has been dismantled. The broken effigy lies above the vault and what remains of the panels are stacked at the end of the chapel. The carving was originally superior to that of the other effigies and the slab had a finely moulded border, now worn away. The armour is less out-of-date for the period than that of the others, having originally had a gorget of plate instead of mail, though this part of the figure is now missing. The sword and belt are the same. The panels closely resemble those at New Abbey, but are better carved. In the space above two of them is a shield bearing the Eustace saltire with no cadency mark. There is no inscription. Mr. Hunt dates the effigy as late fifteenth century. These pages © Ronald Eustice, 2007
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