Abbey hunts for memorial descendants

Sherborne Abbey needs to move monuments, some of which are more than 800 years old

An abbey has appealed for the descendants of several people whose memorials are at the site of a proposed new vestry to come forward.

Toilets are set to be installed in the vestry of Sherborne Abbey in Dorset but a number of memorials, including that of poet Sir Thomas Wyatt who died in 1542, will need to be moved before work can start.

Several people have already come forward and it is "nice that we're able to feel we've consulted them", Reverend Martin Lee said.

He added the installation of the toilets mean the abbey could "catch up with the times". It is hoped the work will start in the summer.

The addition of toilets is "not a straightforward process", Mr Lee admitted.

"We're having to move the vestry to underneath the organ... and then build our toilets in the vestry."

One of the monuments is to Sir Thomas Wyatt who, according to legend, rescued his father from a lion as a child

Seven memorials, honouring eight people, need to be moved in order for the work to take place.

Their dates range from the 12th to the 20th Century.

One of the monuments is to Sir Thomas Wyatt who, according to legend, rescued his father from a lion as a child, and helped King Henry VIII get his marriage to Catherine of Aragon annulled.

Another is a memorial to Sir John Horsey, friend of Sir Thomas and "courtier" to the royal family. The monument was last moved by the Victorians, Mr Lee said.

Other memorials are to Abbot Clement from circa 1155, George Brown from 1709, and Richard and Francis Hodgson from 1918.

Another memorial is to Sir John Horsey, friend of Sir Thomas and "courtier" to the royal family

"We've already had people who are long distant relatives... come to us," Mr Lee added.

"We've had descendants from Sir Thomas Wyatt and we've also had friends [of Sir John]," he said.

"It's nice that we're able to feel we've consulted them and they know what we're going to do."