The pièce de résistance of the Cowper Chapel is this fine altar tomb featuring a life size and eerily life like effigy of the 7th Earl Cowper.
Francis Thomas De Grey Cowper, 7th Earl Cowper d.1905, known as Viscount Fordwich, was the last Cowper Earl with which upon his death the Earldom became extinct. In his lifetime, he was a Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and would also be admitted to the then privy council. Rather staggering was his wealth in which he was a millionaire by inheritance and owned nearly 38,000 acres of land, upon his death without issue his wealth was split between the children of his three sisters.
The monument was constructed in 1909 by Henry Poole who was the go-to architectural sculptor in his time, it may appear pompous though one can’t deny the intricacy and realness of its design, it reminds me greatly of the exquisite effigies found in the Albert Memorial Chapel at St George’s in Windsor.
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