Richard Pembridge

Sir Richard Pembridge(died 1375),KG,was one of the earliest appointedKnights of the Garter.

Monument with effigy of Sir Richard Pembridge,Hereford Cathedral,originally in theBlack Friars Monastery,removed here at theDissolution of the Monasteries

Arms of Sir Richard Pembridge, KG:Barry of six or and azure a bend gules,circumscribed by theGarter.Arms as sculpted withinquatrefoilsonchest tombsupporting his effigy

Steel helm of Sir Richard Pembridge, one of only four 14th-century knight's helms to survive.National Museum of Scotland,Edinburgh

Effigy of Sir Richard Pembridge,Hereford Cathedral,showing theGarterworn on his left leg below the knee. His head rests on a helm with crest atop it ofa plume of feathersand his feet rest on a dog

Career

A Herefordshire man whose family background is uncertain, he fought at sea at theBattle of Sluys(1340) and alongside King Edward III at theBattle of Crécy(1346) and at theBattle of Poitiers(1356) during theHundred Years' War.He served the king as Custodian ofSouthampton Castlein 1361 and then asConstable of Dover CastleandWarden of the Cinque Portsin 1370.He was appointed aKnight of the Garterin 1368. In 1372 he refused to accept the post ofLieutenant of Irelandand as a result was in some disgrace at his death in 1375.

Marriage and children

He married Elizabeth le Strange (d.1362), a daughter ofJohn le Strange, 2nd Baron Strange(1305–1349), of Blackmere, by his wife Ankaret le Boteler, daughter ofWilliam Boteler, 1st Baron Boteler(died 1334), of Wem. Elizabeth was the widow successively ofEdmund St John, 3rd Baron St John(d. 1347), of Basing, who died at theSiege of Calaisin 1347, and ofGerard de Lisle, 1st Baron Lisle(1304-1360)ofKingston Lisle.By Elizabeth he had one son:

• Henry Pembridge (1360-1375), who died at the age of 15 and predeceased his father.

Death and succession

He was buried in theBlack Friars Monasteryin Hereford. As he died without surviving issue his eventual heirs were his nephews Sir Richard Burley and Sir Thomas de Barre.

Monument

His monument with recumbent effigy was originally situated in theBlack Friars Monasteryin Hereford, but following theDissolution of the Monasterieswas moved to its present location inHereford Cathedral.He is sculpted in life-size inalabaster,fully armed and wearing theGarteron his left leg below the knee.Fisher (1898) wrote:

There are still traces of colour on this monument and gold remains on the points of the cap to which the camail is fastened, as also on the jewelled sword-belt. A sheaf of green coloured leathers is separated from the tilting helmet, on which the head rests, by a coronet of open roses. When the effigy was brought here it had but one leg left, and that the gartered one. A wooden limb was carved, and the workman showed such accuracy in duplicating the stone leg that the Knight was adorned with a pair of Gartersfor many years until Lord Saye and Sele, Canon Residentiary, presented the Cathedral with a new alabaster leg, and the wooden one was banished to a shelf in the library.

His steel helm, one of only four 14th-century knight's helms to survive, is held at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.