Magdalen Walsh
Magdalen Walsh was buried in the east cloister of Westminster Abbey. Her monument, by Peter Scheemakers, was originally in this walk but was moved to the south cloister. However it was taken down in 2008 in order to accommodate a new memorial to the Armed Forces. It has now been conserved and replaced and the inscription re-painted.
The inscription reads:
To the memory of Magdalen Walsh, one of the daughters of Robert Walsh Esqr. of the Walsh mountains in the Kingdom of Ireland. She, with her sister Margaret Daly, were the only co-heiresses to the most noble Edmund Sheffield, late Duke of Buckinghamshire and Normanby. She was born in Ireland A.D. 1684 and died in London the 1st Septbr. 1747. Her remains are interr'd near this place. Requiescat in Pace
On the death of Edmund (who is also buried in the Abbey and has a wax effigy in the Abbey collection) without heirs his estates reverted to the descendants (ie. Magdalen and Margaret) of his great-great aunt who had married Walter Walsh of Castle Hoel in Ireland.
This image can be purchased from Westminster Abbey Library
Image © 2024 Dean and Chapter of Westminster