1698 Headstone To South Of Porch In Churchyard Of The Church Of The Blessed Virgin Mary

This headstone, dated 1698, is located to the south of the porch in the churchyard of the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Eccleston. It is made of sandstone and is positioned between the south porch of the church and a war memorial. The small stone features relief-carved scrollwork at the top and has wider shoulders. The inscription is also relief carved, displaying the initials "R G" separated by a tulip above a horizontal line, along with the date "1698".

Historically, this headstone is significant as it is the earliest example of a purpose-designed headstone in the churchyard, with other headstones dating from the 18th century or later. The use of headstones as memorials became more common in the late 17th century, and they evolved into one of the most important forms of memorial in Britain.

This headstone is recognized for its clear and representative design, showcasing relief carving typical of the 17th century, with its modest scrollwork, initials, date, and a folk art representation of a tulip.