Oldham.27s death.2C his chapel and tomb Hugh Oldham

some of 59 sculpted owl rebuses on walls, ceiling , tomb in chantry chapel of bishop oldham



the owl-dom rebus. depiction of stone carving in oldham s chantry

sir john speke, wealthy devon knight, , bishop oldham jointly planned construction of 2 new chantry chapels in complementary positions off north , south choir-aisles of exeter cathedral. oldham s chapel, off south aisle, apparently complete 1513. dedicated st saviour, , oldham intended body rest there. speke died on 28 april 1518 , interred in tomb off north aisle. on 16 december of same year, oldham drew in gave £80 vicars choral celebrate daily mass soul @ tomb. died 6 months later, on 25 june 1519.

his body lies in chantry chapel decorated numerous carvings of owl personal device. 1 of owls carries scroll in beak, bearing letters dom . tomb surmounted brightly painted, rather crudely carved effigy, typical of general decline in quality of sepulchral monuments of 16th century. tomb restored corpus christi college in late 19th century, , restored again , recoloured, many other monuments in cathedral, between 1956 , 1967.