85. AN IMPORTANT AND DOCUMENTED TUDOR HAMSTONE COAT OF ARMS, OF ROBERT MARTYN AND ELIZABETH KELWAY OF ATHELHAMPTON HALL, DORSET, CIRCA 1530-1540.

The original Hamstone gatehouse Armorial from Athelhampton Hall in Dorset, bears the arms of Robert Martyn of Athelhamptom and Elizabeth Kelway.

Featuring a foliate helm with figure above festooned with scrolling foliage and flanked by the marriage initials ‘RM” ‘EM” above a cartouche emblazoned with the arms of Martyn quartering Kelway flanked by a pair of tethered monkey supports, 92cm wide 47cm high 30cm deep

Robert Martyn and Elizabeth Kelway were married circa 1530, Athelhampton was the Martyn family seat and they undertook the building of the new gatehouse where the armorial sat above the gateway.

The gatehouse and adjoined walls were taken down in 1862, sections of which were preserved in the house, including this armorial. Surviving early illustrations of the gatehouse are known from prior to its dismantling.

See: Buckler's plan, from a sketch by Benjamin Ferrey dated 1834 (Plate 93), from Nash's engraving (Mansions in the Olden Time,1839–, III, pl. ix) and also from J. Pouncy, Dorset Illustrated, c. 1857

Athelhampton is notable as a media location, where the 1972 film Sleuth starring Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine was set, also later for hosting episodes of ‘Going for a Song’ and ‘The Antiques Roadshow’.