Sarah Hughes

Sarah Hughes was a servant who left money in her will to buy candlesticks for the High Altar of Westminster Abbey. She was a long time resident in the Abbey precincts being in the household of Thomas Knipe, under master of Westminster School. She was buried in the west cloister of the Abbey on 9th October 1690. It was usual at that time for residents, servants or workers at the Abbey to be buried in the cloister area. She may have been a relative of Thomas Hughes, a choirman who was buried in 1668. Her sister was Jane Smith. A pair of silver gilt candlesticks, thirty inches high, were duly acquired, with the London hall marks for 1691-1692 and the maker's mark R, for John Richardson. On a cartouche on each base is her name. There are high relief floral festoons, cherubs and bands of acanthus leaves in the design.