Tomb of Frances and John Abel, Earlham Cemetery

A chest tomb with horse statue dedicated to Frances Abel (d 1859). Executed by Amos Hibbett, monumental mason, with later inscription for John Abel (d 1881).

MATERIALS: stone.

PLAN: rectangular, orientated east to west.

DESCRIPTION: classical chest with moulded plinth, raised panels at the corners, inset inscription panels on the north and south sides, thick stone slab and sculpture of a horse on a carved base, bowing its head and stepping forward with fore leg raised, beside a carved ivy-clad tree trunk with carved acorn hanging from a branch.

On the south side, the inscription reads:

“SACRED/TO THE MEMORY OF/FRANCES/THE WIFE OF/ JOHN ABEL/ WHO DIED 11TH MARCH 1859, AGED 55 YEARS”

On the north side, the inscription reads:

“IN LOVING MEMORY OF/JOHN ABEL/ WHO DIED 5TH OCTOBER 1883/ AGED 80 YEARS/LET ALL THE WORLD BE SILENT FOR GOD ALONE IS JUDGE”

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 5 November 2025 to correct a spelling error in the description.