The monument of William Leighton (1533–1607), in the Church of St James at Cardington, makes a very bold and informative statement about the ambitions of the man who presided over Plaish in the late sixteenth century. Directed from his will and with the then huge sum of £501 stipulated for its erection in the chancel, it is surely inspired by the monument of Edmund Plowden (d. 1584) of Plowden (q.v.) at the Temple Church in London. It has the same highly distinctive rosette-set arched canopy with armorial-centred scroll cresting and a provincial version of the ovoid frieze. The latter, instead of being within the canopy – as on Plowden’s monument – appears below the effigy, allowing Leighton – rather than to lie recumbent, as Plowden does – to tilt himself up and confront the observer.

Leighton’s residence at Plaish demonstrates a similar social self-consciousness, in being a relatively early brick house in Shropshire, which still outwardly makes a display that is suggestive of the wealth and taste of an important grandee of the Welsh Marches. Leighton served as a member of the highly influential Council of the Welsh Marches and progressed within his legal career to be Chief Justice of North Wales. He already had high status in the county since his grandfather, John Leighton of Leighton, came into the Wattlesborough property – which included Loton (q.v.) – through his marriage to Ankoret, or Angharad, (1433–1471) the second daughter and co-heir of Sir John de Burgh of Wattlesborough. William’s father, Sir William Leighton (1456–1520), was a younger son of John Leighton and Ankoret, yet he had been able to establish himself with his own estate as a result of his marriage. His wife, Margery, was the daughter and co-heir of Sir Fulk Sprencheaux or Sprenchose of Plaish, whose family had apparently held the estate since 1255. The Sprencheaux family also had property at Longnor and this passed via Margery’s sister to her husband William Acton of Aldenham.

Chief Justice Leighton’s own contacts and networks are interesting since not only were his executors Sir Roger Owen of Condover (q.v.), Edward Lutwyche of Lutwyche (q.v.) and Edward Vernon (a younger son from Hodnet (q.v.), but his will, proved in 1608, also makes reference to a silver gilt salt given to his son, Henry, by John Thynne.