Carrington Memorial - Borough Cemetery

This is a late 19th-century chest tomb located in Borough Cemetery, Buxton Road, Stockport. It was designed by T Derbyshire of Stockport and is constructed from sandstone with bronze inscription plaques.

The tomb is a large, rectangular structure set on a rectangular base, inscribed with the family name CARRINGTON on the west side, facing the pathway, and with the name of the designer/craftsman on the left. The tomb features a moulded plinth with a relief-carved arcade of fluted pilasters and segmental arches, each arch having carved tympana depicting alternating shell and flame motifs on the side elevations. Inset panels beneath the arcade lintels contain either relief carvings or bronze inscription plaques listing family members. Plaque inscriptions are present on the two north end panels, commemorating Samuel Ratcliffe Carrington (died 12 November 1883) and his wife, Christiana (died 26 March 1886). The two south end panels lack inscription plaques, instead featuring carved panels. Above the arcade is an entablature incorporating egg-and-dart and dentilated architrave, a frieze with relief inscriptions to each elevation, and a moulded cornice. The inscriptions, starting from the north end, read, "MORS JANUA VITAE" (death is the gate of everlasting life), "SLEEP AFTER TOIL PORT AFTER STORMY SEAS", "EASE AFTER WAR", and "DEATH AFTER LIFE DOES GREATLY PLEASE." Above the entablature is an inverted, moulded and carved cornice with acanthus leaf decoration, supporting the stone lid. The monolithic stone lid has a shallow, roof-like shape with chamfered ends and a moulded cornice.

The Carrringtons were a prominent local manufacturing family, owners of a hat works on Adswood Lane, Stockport (now partially demolished). One of Samuel Ratcliffe Carrington's sons died in New York in 1879 and is buried in Stockport Cemetery.

The memorial is designated at Grade II for being an unusual late 19th-century chest tomb in a bold neo-Romanesque style, and for its bespoke design combining high-quality craftsmanship with striking and devout inscriptions displayed in elegant raised lettering.