The Lanvalei family

A recess in St Mary’s church in Walkern houses this remarkably fine Purbeck marble effigy of a knight with crossed legs, in a suit of chain armour with shield, sword and closed flat-topped helm . It is one of only three known instances in England in which the visor is drawn down the face. Cussans dates the monument 1160-1220 AD.

Although it cannot be established for certain, the most likely contender as who the effigy represents is William de Lanvalei (c.1182-c.1217) one of the twenty-five Magna Carta sureties appointed by the barons at Runnymede in 1215, who had inherited the manor of Walkern through his father.  His early death in 1217,  and the role he played at Runnymede was likely to have been a good reason to commemorate him in marble.

There is no evidence, as has been suggested, that the effigy represents a crusader, nor that it represents a knight who was not buried in Walkern but was brought here from either Temple Dinsley or Baldock. The only shred of evidence that favours it having been moved from a different location is that the figure’s base does not fit the recess. In all probability it originally stood on the floor of the chancel, as do the effigies in the Temple Church, London. Subsequently, when that part of Walkern church was rebuilt, a recess was made in the wall of the south aisle and the figure placed therein. The style, workmanship and choice of Purbeck marble for the figure support the idea that the effigy could have been made in the same workshop, near the present St Paul’s Cathedral, as the figures in the 12th Century Temple Church, London.

The Lanvelei line acquired Walkern through this William’s grandfather, also a William, who married Gunnora the daughter and heir of Hubert St Clare (c.1120-1155).

According to WB Gerish, the earthworks known as Walkern Castle may be the work of one of the Lanvaleis, probably the ealier of the two., although the site has long been known as the Bury, and this usually denotes a Saxon homestead. The Manor House has always been on or near the site of the present house at Walkern Park and, more probably, seems to have been the residence of the Lords of the Manor, both Saxon and Plantagenet.

For more on William, the Lanvelei family and their relationship to the St Clair famly, see the St Clair, Sinclair Genealogy website