Group Of Table Tombs 3 Metres To East Of Church Of St Helen

This is a group of three chest tombs located 3 metres east of the Church of St Helen in Bishop Auckland. They date from the mid-18th century to the early 19th century and are made of ashlar and marble.

The first tomb, dating around 1755 and situated adjacent to the church wall, features a large plain-sided sandstone chest with an ogee-moulded plinth. The top slab, likely made of marble, has a moulded edge. It bears an inscription for Sir Robert Eden, who died in 1755 at the age of 36, and his wife Mary, who died in 1794 at the age of 73.

The second tomb, located immediately east of the first and dating to around 1790, has a plain plinth and is adorned with six tapered fluted pilasters that have plinths and Ionic capitals. Recessed plain slabs are positioned between the pilasters, supporting a top slab with a moulded edge. This tomb commemorates Harriett Eden, who died in 1789 at the age of 5, another two-year-old daughter of Sir John Eden, and Caroline Eden, though her date is illegible. The inscription includes a verse that is partly eroded.

The third tomb, situated 3 metres north of the first and dating to around 1766, features a table with a moulded plinth and four bombe angle pilasters with simple plinths and necking. It has a round-edged top slab and inscriptions for Catherine Eden, who died in 1766 at the age of 23, the wife of Sir John Eden Bart. of Windlestone, as well as for Dorothea, his second wife, who died in 1792 at the age of 45, and for Sir John, who died in 1812 at the age of 71. The Eden family resided at West Auckland Manor for many years before moving to Windlestone Hall.