Group Of 18Th Century And 19Th Century Tombs Approximately 3 Metres South Of Church Of St Andrew

This group of tombs, dating from the 18th and 19th centuries, is located approximately 3 metres south of the Church of St Andrew in Bishop Auckland. The collection includes three headstones, one chest tomb, and one table tomb, with dates ranging from 1771 to 1853, all constructed from ashlar.

The first headstone, situated 0.5 metres south of the church, stands about 0.8 metres high and features a central segment with a shaped top. It commemorates Jane, the wife of Robert Wascoe, who died in 1751, and Robert himself, who died in 1771, noting that the Wascoe family served as clerks to the parish.

The second headstone, located 2 metres south of the church, is approximately 0.9 metres high and has an elaborate bracket-shaped top with tooled edges, dedicated to Thomas Dobson, who died in 1778.

The third headstone, about 4 metres south of the church, is around 1 metre high with a bracket-shaped top. It bears inscriptions for Timothy Brown of Deanery, who died in 1799, his wife Dorothy, who died in 1776, and other family members up to 1936.

The table tomb, positioned approximately 5 metres south of the church, features a moulded slab on square legs with a base, capital, and curved shaft. It is dedicated to Jane Gibson, who died in 1853, and other family members.

Adjacent to the table tomb, the chest tomb is also about 5 metres south of the church. It commemorates James Baker, who died in 1793 at the age of 10, and his uncle Robert Fell, a joiner, who died in 1833. This tomb has a moulded slab on panelled sides, with the end panels displaying low relief cherubs and inscriptions, while the side panels feature similar designs and legends.