Hardman Grave Slab In Churchyard Of Church Of St Mary

The Hardman grave slab is located to the south-west of St Mary's Church. It is made of sandstone and is rectangular in shape. The top features a simple incised arch motif, while the foot of the slab displays a finely incised carving of a 'Green Man' style face surrounded by a scrolled motif. The upper part of the slab has carved incised lettering in Early Modern English that reads, "Here Refteth the Bodies of/ Ralph Hardman of Macher/ buried Novembr ye 9th 1695/ Spe beatae refurrectionis." Below this, there is an additional inscription stating, "Efther his Daughter buried/ Febry 16 1694." The lower part of the slab contains seemingly unrelated early 20th-century inscriptions that read, "ALSO OF ALFRED HEYWOOD/ WHO DIED APRIL 17TH 1905/ AGED 37 YEARS" and "ALSO ELIZA WIFE OF CHARLES BENTLEY/ WHO DIED APRIL 14TH 1905/ AGED 37 YEARS."