Yarrell Tombs And Railings Of Enclosure 20 Metres To North West Of Nave

The Yarrell Tombs and railings of enclosure are located 20 meters northwest of the nave at Bayford Church Lane. This group of tombstones is dedicated to members of the Yarrell family, including Frances who died in 1794, Harriot who died in 1796, Sarah who died in 1796, Francis who died in 1812, seven infants of Frances, and William Yarrell (1784-1856), a notable Victorian zoologist and author of "A History of British Birds" and "A History of British Fishes," who was buried on September 8, 1856.

The tombs feature white limestone head and foot stones, with a sandstone headstone for William Yarrell. The graves are enclosed by a stone weathered curb and original cast iron railings. There are nine graves closely grouped within a rectangular railed enclosure. The graves include rounded recumbent stones over the graves in the middle of the western row and the middle row. The headstones follow a similar design with moulded segmental tops adorned with paterae. The railings are decorated with cruciform iron spears that have pointed bulbous tops, arranged in five bays along the long sides and three bays at each end. Fluted square standards are topped with fluted urns.

William Yarrell bequeathed £500 in his will for the maintenance of the family graves, which remain unusually intact with their railings. His executors placed an inscription in the church, donated surplus funds to the poor of the parish, and erected a wall memorial to Yarrell near the north aisle of St. James' Church, Piccadilly, featuring a portrait medallion and two Bewick swans as supporters, a bird he discovered and named after his favorite engraver.