Headstones Within The Churchyard Area Of The Parish Church Of St Mary Defined By The Path To The South Porch On The West Side, The Boundary Wall To The South, An Unmarked Boundary On The East Side Parallel To The Path And In Line With The East Wall Of The Chancel, And The Church To The North

Headstones within the churchyard of the Parish Church of St Mary, Doddington

This collection comprises headstones located in the churchyard area defined by the path to the south porch on the west side, the boundary wall to the south, an unmarked boundary on the east side parallel to the path and in line with the east wall of the chancel, and the Church to the north.

The headstones date from the early 18th century onwards. Two are from the early 18th century, eighteen from the mid 18th century, thirty-six from the late 18th century, forty-one from the early 19th century, twenty-five from the mid 19th century, with remaining examples from the late 18th and early 19th centuries that are indecipherable. The stones are limestone slabs with moulded shaped heads, featuring Rococo and Greek Revival designs. Lettering is incised and usually painted black. Two groups totalling ten headstones are outstanding in craftsmanship and design, dating from 1731 to 1786. One headstone bears the mason's signature "D Wade" of Doddington. The headstones have been reset but remain in family groupings.

Individual examples of note include: a limestone slab dated 1763 with moulded shaped head terminating in scrolls, central crown with two trumpets flanked by angel-heads and festoons of flowers, with oval convex plaque inscribed "Thomas Jarman - 1763"; a 1799 example with moulded shouldered round head and carved figure in oval medallion with C-S vine and palm decoration; a 1746 slab with moulded shaped head, two angel-heads with scroll and flower swags, inscribed to "Mary wife of Isaac Garner"; a 1776 stone with dove and flanking angel heads, C-S scroll decoration enclosing round plaque to "Henry Neighbours"; a 1781 example featuring standing figure of angel holding trumpet rising from an urn with skull and bones, inscribed to "John Burges"; a 1746 slab with angel-head, C-S scroll decoration and swags, inscribed to "Mary daughter of William and Mary York"; a 1769 stone with dove, cloud and two angel-heads and cartouche devices, inscribed to "Jacob Jarman"; a 1769 slab depicting figure standing holding distaff with child in Gothic archway with drapes, octagonal plaque with laurel wreath, inscribed to "Mary the wife of James Eagle"; a 1737 stone with round head terminating in scrolls, angel-head with folded wings, inscribed to "Willm Boyden"; an 1808/1829 example with moulded shouldered round head, angel-head, shell and horns with corn and flowers, double commemoration "open book" plaque; a stone dated 1817, 1819, 1827 by D Wade, mason of Doddington, with angel-head and swags; an 1809 slab with seated figured medallion with drapes and angel-head, double plaque inscribed to George Fisher and his wife Sarah; and a 1771 example with shouldered plaque enclosed with swags, bust of man and woman facing each other, pair of hands placing a wedding ring, inscribed to "Mary the wife of John Richard" with memorial verse below.