Susan Millicent Fane

The inscription below the window says 

"Great Peace have they that Love the Law" 

Below that it says

"To the Honour of God and in memory of Susan Millicent Fane who died 19th December, 1877"

The window's subject is The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple 

It portrays St Simeon the "just and devout" man of Jerusalem, recognising that Jesus is the Messiah, in the Temple.  

The window is dedicated to Susan Millicent Fane, the wife of William Dashwood Fane who both lived at Melbourne Hall.

Susan was the eldest daughter of General John Reeve and Lady Susan Reeve of Leadenham in Lincolnshire. She was born in 1823 and married William Fane in 1861, they had 3 surviving children.

Whilst at Melbourne Hall she opened a Reading Room for working men in Melbourne High Street that provided free tea and coffee. Susan sadly died at the Hall in 1877, aged 52.

William was the 6^th son of Hon, Henry Fane of Fulbeck Hall in Lincolnshire. He was born in India in 1816 and became a barrister in 1841 at Lincoln’s Inn.  From 1856 until 1867 he was Legal Assistant to the Board of Trade, an important position. He later became a magistrate for Newark.

William Dashwood Fane

He married Susan and they lived at Norwood Park in Lincolnshire, moving to Melbourne in 1875, to live in the house of his cousin, Earl Cowper.

William was a member of the Antiquarian Society and in 1889 he excavated the footings of Melbourne Castle beneath Castle Farm. He was also involved in the transcription and publication of the manuscripts of his cousin Earl Cowper, which were preserved at Melbourne Hall. 

Although Susan died at Melbourne she was buried in Fulbeck in Lincolnshire, as was William who returned to Fulbeck Hall on the death of his elder brother.

The Grave of Susan Millicent Fane and her husband William

 Susan is also remembered on a brass plaque in Fulbeck Church.