Hardman Grave Slab In Churchyard Of Church Of St Mary

Located to the south-west of St Mary's Church. Sandstone, rectangular grave slab with a simple incised arch motif to the top, finely incised carving of a 'Green Man' style face set within a scrolled motif to the foot of the slab. Carved incised lettering in Early Modern English to the upper part of the slab reads 'Here Refteth the Bodies of/ Ralph Hardman of Macher/ buried Novembr ye 9th 1695/ Spe beatae refurrectionis'. Below is a further inscription, which reads 'Efther his Daughter buried/ Febry 16 1694'. Seemingly unrelated early-C20 inscriptions to the lower part of the slab 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'.