Group Of Five Tombs In Graveyard North West Of Church Of St Stephen

LEEDS

SE2635 MORRIS LANE, Kirkstall 714-1/22/906 (East side (off)) Group of 5 tombs in graveyard north-west of Church of St Stephen

GV II

2 vaults and 3 gravestones. 1831-1869. Carved stone and ashlar, cast-iron railings. Family vaults of the Butler/Beecroft and Hargrave families, and graves of the Hodgson family and of Benjamin Dawson. Grouped approx 10m north of the west door of St Stephen's church and composed of, from west to east: Butler, Hargrave and Hodgson against and incorporated into the graveyard extension wall, and Dawson at the S end of Hargrave. i) Butler/Beecroft: paired Gothic niches with hoodmoulds and shields on 3 sides, railed enclosure to S; the niches and 8 slabs carved with names and tributes including: Thomas Butler of Kirkstall Forge, ironmaster, d.26.07.1831 aged 58 years. He was elected the first warden of this church of which he was a most active and zealous promoter...also George Beecroft, 3rd son, d.1851 aged 17 and other children buried at Headingley; the railings, on a low wall with gate on S side, are square section with cusped top rail and floriate finials to rails, cup and cover finials to standards. ii) Hargrave: large Classical carved slab at N end, railed enclosure to S; the slab has pilasters flanking niches with carved inscriptions, pediment over, in larger pilastered surround with entablature, cornice and scrolled pediment with wreaths. Inscriptions commemorate Benjamin, son of James and Sarah Hargrave of Kirkstall, d.19.01.1833, 6 other children who died 1833-55, James d.04.11.1852 and Sarah d.16.02.1860 aged 76; 9 other family members, the latest Kate, youngest daughter, d.03.01.1930, aged 73. Low ashlar wall with heavy iron railing, gate on E side: octagonal rails with leaf finials, massive standards with acanthus-style open finials. iii) Hodgson: 2 grave slabs against boundary wall, low moulded ashlar wall with fine spearhead railings on 3 sides, gate missing. Inscriptions commemorate the family of the Revd Robert Hodgson, first incumbent of St Stephen's, and his family, including Hobsons of Cross House in the County of Cumberland, 1836-47. iv) Dawson: a gabled tombstone with cross, inscription to Benjamin Dawson of Hanover Terrace, Regents Park, London, and of Kirkstall, d.19.04.1869; chamfered kerb with cast-iron scrolled panels and fleur-de-lis finials supporting rail.

Listing NGR: SE2650435831