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Gundrada Chapel
The south chapel was built in 1847 after the excavation of the site of the Priory during the building of the Brighton to Lewes Railway in 1845.
The remains of William de Warenne and his wife Gundred (latinised as Gundrada) were found in small leaden caskets.
These remains had been removed from their original resting place before the High Altar of the Priory Church, and re-interred in those caskets
in the floor of the Chapter House when it was built in the thirteenth century.
The following is one of the many translations of the inscription:Illustrious branch of Ducal race in brought into England's Church balsamic grace pious as Mary and as Martha kind to generous deeds she gave her virtuous mind. Though the cold tomb her Martha's part receives. Her Mary's better part forever lives. 0 Holy Pancras keep with greater care. A mother who has made her sons thy heir. On the sixth calends of June's fateful morn the marble frame by inward struggles torn freed the pure soul which upward bent its way to realms of love and seeds of endless joy. These caskets are now in niches in the south wall of the Chapel, but the remains of William and Gundred were buried again in the floor of the chapel, under the original grave slab of Gundred. This had been found in the eighteenth century, face down, as a common paving stone in nearby Isfield Church. 
It was for many years thought that Gundred was a daughter of William the Conqueror but this cannot now be sustained.
She died in 1085 at Castle Acre, Norfolk, apparently her favourite home. Her remains were brought back to Lewes to be buried
in the Priory Church which she and her husband founded.The tomb slab is stylistically of the period of re-interment rather than of the original burial, and is considered to be an important piece of roman-esque art. There are sundry other finds in the Chapel, including the damaged effigy of a Knight also found during the railway work. (c) 2007 Southover Church. DHTML / JavaScript Menu by TwinHelix Designs |
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