Blanche Mortimer was the daughter of Roger Mortimer, the powerful nobleman who had Edward II murdered in 1327. Mortimer was the de facto ruler of England for three years before he himself was overthrown by Edward's eldest son, Edward III.
Blanche was born around 1316 and was married to Sir Peter Grandison, but died in 1347, aged just 21, leaving behind a son, Otto.
And memorial with a statue of her can be found inside the church. The statue is so beautiful that it is mentioned in Simon Jenkins« book »England's Thousand Best Churches" as one of the finest in the country, and the fact that it has survived 600 years says something about the solid craftsmanship and materials used.
It was long feared that the coffin had been hidden during the construction of a crypt in the late 15th century. Now the surprising find has been filmed for posterity, as it may well be another 700 years before anyone gets a chance to see inside it again.
