Tomb Of John Tradescant And His Family In St Mary'S Churchyard

The tomb of John Tradescant and his family is located in St Mary's Churchyard, dating from 1662. It features a hard sandstone sarcophagus adorned with high relief carvings on all four sides, showcasing classical and Egyptian ruins, trees at each corner, and various flora and fauna, including a mythical hydra on one end. The lid slab, added in 1853, notes the original tomb's date, its repair in 1773, and its final restoration in 1853, along with a poem honoring John Tradescant and his son, who were known for collecting rare specimens from land, sea, and air. The Tradescants served as gardeners to Charles I, lived in Lambeth, and traveled extensively, returning with numerous botanical discoveries. They established a physic garden in South Lambeth, and their collections eventually contributed to the Ashmolean Museum.