Monument To Anne Sladen, Lee Old Churchyard

The monument to Anne Sladen, located in Lee Old Churchyard, is a box tomb erected around 1814 for Anne Sladen, who died in the same year, along with other family members. This stone Neo-Classical tomb features tapering angle pilasters adorned with flaming torches, a common symbol of mortality found on churchyard tombs and headstones. The cornice is decorated with a tongue and dart motif, and the top of the tomb is shaped like a shallow square pyramid. Originally, each corner would have had a semi-circular 'Soanian style' corner terminal, but only one remains, which is decorated with a wreath.

The old churchyard of Lee is home to many significant monuments that reflect the area's Georgian history, serving as a retirement spot for City merchants and those connected to the Greenwich and Deptford shipyards. In the center of the churchyard are the remains of the tower from the former medieval Church of St Margaret, which is listed as Grade II. The current Church of St Margaret, located to the south side of Lee Terrace, was built between 1839 and 1841 and is listed as Grade II*. The churchyard of this current church contains later tombs, primarily used from the 1840s to the 1870s, with a decline in usage following the opening of Hither Green Cemetery in 1873. The tomb for Anne Sladen was erected around 1814, and it also commemorates her daughter, Emma Mary Sladen, who died in 1829.

Overall, the tomb of Anne Sladen is a striking example of early 19th-century architecture in the Greek Revival style, showcasing good architectural quality.