Group Of Eight Early C18 Tombs To South Of The Saxon Church

BISHOP AUCKLAND

NZ13SE SAXON GREEN, Escomb 634-1/1/137 Group of eight early C18 tombs to south of the Saxon Church

GV II

Group of 8 early and mid C18 tombs. Stone, probably sandstone. All positions given are distances from centre of church porch. (i) 6m SW: headstone 0.5m high with serpentine head. West face has inscription in large letters to Ralph Simpson d.1729, with 4-petalled flower at head linked by incised line to corner paterae. Top has deeply-cut groove ending in stylised leaves. Reverse has recessed panel with low relief simplified skull and crossed bones, over partly obscured Latin inscription `Beati sunt mortui qui in Dom..' (ii) 6m NE: low headstone 0.4m high with rounded top. To Peter Brown d.1730. (iii) 6m E: headstone 0.5m high. To Elizabeth ?Brown d.1737. (iv) 6m SE: headstone with twin semicircles at head, and border with rings, plus paired fern-like leaves spring from junction of semicircles at head. Inscription to Cristefar Robson or Pearson d.1703. Hour glass carved on rear. (v) 9m SE: headstone 0.5m high, with 4 segments along top. To Mary Spark d.1755. (vi) 12m SE: headstone 0.5m high with bracket-shaped top. To Margaret Robson d.1775 aged 17. (vii) 8m E: headstone 0.5m high with round top and large inscription to John Brown d.1750, and his wife Catherine, of Witton le Wear. (viii) 10m E: headstone 0.5m high with elaborate bracket-shaped top. To (indecipherable) d.1730 aged 63.

Listing NGR: NZ1892830131