gravestone, and staff of Rufford Abbey Country Park and the County Archaeology team are keen to find out more about it.
Councillor John Knight, Committee Chairman for Culture, at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “Rufford Abbey has an enthralling history and this story underlines the different periods of history that our wonderful country park has witnessed. Visitors are often fascinated by the era of the Cistercian Monks here at Rufford. Rediscovering this tombstone helps us to further understand the country park’s past and we’d like to learn more about this monk.”
After it was dissolved by Henry VIII, Rufford Abbey and its grounds were leased briefly to Sir John Markham. Whether Robert de Markham was one of his ancestors is another tantalising historical puzzle.
Rufford Abbey’s former chapel was located near the existing Undercroft and Frater where the Cistercian Monks exhibition is currently located.
Peter Ryder is an independent Historic Buildings Consultant and buildings archaeologist based near Newcastle, who has worked in this area of work all his life.
Mr Ryder said: “It is one of the best medieval grave slabs in the county, and was in the Chapel at Rufford until the 1950s, when Professor Lawrence Butler made a rubbing of it. I sent English Heritage Lawrence Butler’s 1965 illustration and it is definitely the same slab. It commemorates Brother Robert Markham ‘of this monastery’ and is dated 1399, although older accounts had misread the date as 1309 or 1329.
“I think the slab has quite a story to tell – for one thing it is unusual for monks to have as elaborate a memorial as this – and it may be connected with him being from an important family.”
The news is particularly exciting as Rufford is working on a new Conservation Plan to help shape the future development and management of the park. All ‘finds’ such as the recent Egyptian column shipped back to Rufford from former owner and anthropologist Lord Savile, discovered by the county council’s archaeology team help deepen our understanding of the fascinating history of Rufford Abbey Country Park.
Sir Peter Luff, Chair of NHMF, said: “The Missal is a rare and beautiful artefact that provides a fascinating insight into a tumultuous period in our national history. This money from the National Heritage Memorial Fund has helped to save the manuscript for the nation providing people, local students in particular, with a chance to study it up close.”