Saturday 27 October 2012

The Tresham trail, part 3


Probably the most famous building which Sir Thomas Tresham had built is the Triangular Lodge. This is located about half a mile to the north west of Rushton Hall on the edge of the Tresham Estate. It is now in the care of English Heritage.
The Lodge is dated 1593 and 1595, the dates of its execution, and is loaded with Christian and Trinitarian symbolism, some of it obviously a play on the Tresham family name itself.
The Triangular Lodge really is a marvellous 3D gesture against Elizabeth Tudor. Not all in the country would become sychophants of her Protestant State, and in the Latin words written on the frieze of the north face of the lodge we see just how deeply that was embraced by Thomas Tresham: "Who will separate us from the love of Christ?"  (Photo below.) Sir Thomas also built the Market Hall in the town of Rothwell nearby. I visited the Hall one evening and saw it floodlit in the centre of the town, but had forgotten to bring my camera.
I should still like to discover where Sir Thomas is buried so that I can visit his memorial.

4 comments:

Catholic Peter said...

Great to here you are back in England Father. Just a quick bit of research for you, his grandfather (Also Thomas Tresham) is buried in the Church of All Saints, Rushton, Northamptonshire. Here is a picture of his tomb in the church: Click here

Info taken from the following website: Click here About one fifth of the way down.

God bless, do let us know if you are in the area, so we can meet up sometime soon.

Peter

Catholic Peter said...

The following link says that the Thomas Tresham you are looking for is also buried in the same church, though it uses the name "St. Peters" so the name may have been changed. Click here

It seems he died intestate: the last of a line of martyred family members.

God bless,

Peter

Fr Richard Aladics said...

Thanks, Peter. I wonder if the Treshams were originally buried in their own chapel of St Peter - which used (until 1799) to stand alonside Rushton Hall. I think that the memorial of Sir Thomas Tresham I, which is in Rushton church, might have originally stood in St Peter's chapel. I shall investigate further.

Fr Richard Aladics said...

In that case, his remains are either in a now covered up vault in the grounds of Rushton Hall Hotel, or they were moved to a new vault at Rushton village church. The church was totally locked up when I was there, and there was no indication of who might be a key-holder. However, I will return!