Monument to Sir Clowdisley Shovell 

In the south choir aisle of Westminster Abbey is a large standing monument (about 20 feet high) of various marbles to the famous Admiral Sir Clowdisley Shovell by the sculptor Grinling Gibbons. 

A bewigged effigy of Shovell dressed in Roman armour and classical drapery is depicted reclining on a couch, flanked by pillars (supporting entablatures and seated cherubs, with a draped canopy between).

At the base of the monument is a carved relief panel depicting Shovell’s shipwreck off the Scilly Isles. On either side are naval trophies.

At the top  a winged boy holds his shield of arms, granted to him in 1692 in commemoration of his victories over the Turks and French – gules, a chevron ermine, in chief two crescents argent, in base a fleur de lis or (a chevron with ermine pattern, two silver crescents above and a gold fleur de lis at the base).

The monument was erected by order of Queen Anne and the inscription reads:

Sr CLOUDESLY SHOVELL Knt Rear Admirall of Great Britain and Admirall and Commander in Chief of the Fleet: the just rewards of his long and faithfull services. He was deservedly beloved of his Country and esteem’d, tho’ dreaded, by the enemy who had often experienced his conduct and courage. Being shipwreckt on the rocks of Scylly in his voyage from Thoulon the 22d of October 1707, at night, in the 57th year of his age his fate was lamented by all but especially the sea faring part of the Nation to whom he was a generous patron and a worthy example. His body was flung on the shoar and buried with others in the sands; but being soon taken up was plac’d under this monument which his Royall Mistress has caus’d to be erected to commemorate his steady loyalty and extraordinary vertues.