Eleanor Bowes

Mrs Eleanor Bowes was buried in the Duke of Ormond's vault at the east end of Henry VII's Lady Chapel on 19th December 1724. This area is now the RAF chapel. An inscribed stone with just the names and dates of those buried in this vault was added in the 19th century but is now covered by a carpet. 

She was born in 1710, the only daughter of the Honourable Thomas Verney, son of the Reverend George Verney, 12th Baron Willoughby de Broke (Dean of Windsor), but he died in his father's lifetime so did not inherit the title. Her mother was Eleanor daughter of Thomas, 2nd Lord Leigh of Stoneleigh.

She was married on 1st October 1724 at Isleworth in Middlesex to George Bowes (1701-1760), coal mine owner, of Streatlam Castle and Gibside Park in County Durham but died in the same year aged only 14.

Her husband married secondly Mary Gilbert and their daughter Eleanor, Countess of Strathmore is buried in the south transept of the Abbey. George is now buried in the mausoleum at Gibside.

Location

Lady Chapel

Eleanor Bowes
Eleanor's name on the vault stone

This image can be purchased from Westminster Abbey Library

Image © 2024 Dean and Chapter of Westminster