Memorial to Susanna Barford (Died 1652) Southwark Cathedral

 

Last week was a full on birthday day in London town. Into Tottenham Hale, down to Highbury and Islington the Angel for a stitch show at the Business Centre for Gunta and a record shop for me. Then back up to Angel in order to get down to Borough to get me some printing supplies (Japanese woodcarving…. let’s see how that goes!). Into Borough market where there are just too many people, too many tourists and too many middle aged men in running shorts and gilets clutching rare breed sourdough loaves!

I needed some sanctuary and knew just the place very close by. It must be 20 years since I last visited Southwark Cathedral. As cathedrals go, it is one of my favourites. Small in comparison with most, Southwark feels like a really good space (even for a heathen such as myself) and within its walls there is a strong sense of community that is hard for your Premiership cathedrals to compete with. But size and stature notwithstanding, Southwark can compete with the best of them when it comes to history. But I am not going to go into that here.

This post concerns one plaque amongst hundreds that adorn almost every vertical space of the interior walls. Not surprisingly it was a skull and cross-bones motif that drew my attention to this simple brass memorial. It is one of only a handful of memorials to a female in the cathedral. Unsurprisingly, the vast majority of the pious, professional and rich folk commemorated on the walls and in the floors were men. This plaque that so engaged me was a memorial to a young girl who died aged just ten. Looking Susanna Barford on the internet, it would appear that her memorial makes an impression on many who see it. The Cathedral itself has named one of its basement meeting and conference rooms after her. 

Nothing much appears to be known about this girl who died three hundred and seventy three years ago and who was  according to the inscription on the plaque destined to become one of Christ’s Maids of Honour. Mention is made online that the Barford family had several children who died young, but only the life of Susanna was remembered in this way.

‘Susanna Barford departed this life the 20th of August 1652 aged 10 years 13 weeks the nonesuch of the world for piety and virtue in so tender years. And death and envy both must say twas fit her memory should thus in brass be writ. Here lies interred within this bed of dust, a virgin pure, not stained by carnal lust. Such grace the King of Kings bestowed upon her that now she lives with him, a maid of honour. Her stage was short her thread was quickly spun, drawn out and cut, got heaven her work was done. This world to her was but a traged play; she came and saw’t, disliked and passed away.’

I am not a poet, but I think that the last line of the inscription is quite something!

On the plaque, the skull image speaks for itself, but what of the image on the right hand side? Is this a representation of something angelic? Answers on a postcard please.