Brass to Thomas and Agnes Andrewes - Church Charwelton, Northamptonshire

Thomas Andrewes (d1541) is shown in armour and bare headed, his wife Agnes wears a huge head-dress and the long hanging sleeves fashionable at the time. Comparison should be made between this brass and that of his grandfather another Thomas whose brass monument is also in this church shows him as a grazier. Within the span of 45 years the Andrewes had advanced up the social ladder and could show themselves not as civilians but as Knights. Within 25 years monuments in the church would show the Andrewes as Lords.

At the time of Thomas Andrewes' grandfather Church Charwelton was a very prosperous village. However, by the time of Thomas' death the village had become deserted and the population moved to Charwelton about a kilometer away. There is no clear indication as to why this happened, but the most likely explanation is that the land was turned over to sheep farming. The villagers thrown off the land and their houses destroyed. Just as they were at nearby Fawsley, which was owned by Thomas' mother's family, the Knightley's who were influential throughout Northamptonshire.