Vault, Tombchest And Memorial Of The Hurleston Family Attached To East End Of Church Of St Peter

The vault, tombchest, and memorial of the Hurleston family are located at the east end of the Church of St. Peter. The vault and tombchest date from around 1670, while the memorial plaque is formerly dated 1727. They are made of buff sandstone. The large rectangular vault cover features a simple plinth and a weathered roof with a nosed edge. On top of it sits a Baroque tombchest on an acanthus plinth. The long sides of the tombchest are adorned with carved recumbent skeletons, one male and one female, with scrolls at the corners. The short sides display crossed palm fronds, and the lid is plain except for a heavily gadrooned border.

Against the chancel, there is an elaborate Baroque memorial tablet. The acanthus plinth supports fluted pilasters with scrolls, and an ornate flat pediment that holds a heraldic shield and two gadrooned urns. The full inscription on the plaque, as recorded in Ormerod's History of Cheshire from 1819, reads:

"(In this vault lies the body of Elizabeth, wife of Charles Hurleston, of Newton esq., youngest daughter and coheir of Thomas Lander, of Newhall, in the County of Lancaster, esq., by Elizabeth, daughter of Edward Downes, of Shrigley, in the county of Chester. esq.) (She was beautiful) in her Person, Distinct in her Behaviour, Dutiful Daughter in her Observance, And had the (.........) long night, A Happy Mother. She dyed the 19th of November 17(27), aged 32."

This pair of Baroque monuments is notable and interesting, as such examples are rarely found in Cheshire outside of churches.