Monument Approximately 15 Metres North Of North Wall Of Great Bromley Church

This monument, located approximately 15 metres north of the north wall of Great Bromley Church, dates from the mid-19th century and features later inscriptions. It commemorates the family of Edward John Alston Esq., who died in 1886, and his wife Mary, who died in 1857, both of Great Bromley Hall. The monument is made of yellow stone and has a tall, square plan divided into three decreasing stages.

The lower stage has a chamfered plinth and inscribed sunk panels on each face. The elaborate second stage includes a moulded base, plinth, and entablature, with a frieze decorated with running diamond and circle motifs. Each face is adorned with splayed end pilasters, moulded capitals and bases, and central moulded roundels with inscribed grey stone centres, showing traces of what appears to be gold paint on the inscriptions.

The small third stage features a moulded base and entablature topped by a small dome and finial. It has open moulded round-headed side arches with moulded capitals and bases on shafted jambs. Beneath the dome is a lotus bud on a moulded plinth. The inscriptions commemorate Mary and Edward Alston, their ten children, and their families. Notably, a son, Roland, died in 1851, and a daughter, Emily, died in 1957. Their son Edward Daniel, who was the Commander of the ship "Roman Empire," and his wife Grace were lost at sea with all hands when the ship sank in 1890. The monument also includes various other names and dates extending to 1935.