Monument To William Chivers, Lee Old Churchyard

779/15/10035 LEE TERRACE 01-JUN-07 LEE Monument to William Chivers, Lee Old C hurchyard

II Chest tomb. Erected late C18/early C19 to William Chivers (d.1807), and his wife Sarah Chivers (d.1779). Coade stone chest tomb with ledger slab removed. A tree now grows out of the top of the tomb. The central panel of the sides projects slightly, and is flanked at either end by an upturned torch, a symbol of life extinguished. A laurel band runs around the top of the chest, with finger rolled berries. The tomb has the added interest that you are able to see the finger imprints left in the clay in the opening on the top of the tomb.

HISTORY: Lee old churchyard contains many notable monuments which reflect the area's Georgian past as a place of retirement for City merchants and those involved with Greenwich and the Deptford shipyards. In the centre of the churchyard stand the remains of the tower belonging to the former medieval Church of St Margaret (listed Grade II). The current Church of St Margaret stands to the south side of Lee Terrace (1839-41, listed Grade II*). The churchyard of the current church contains later tombs, being used principally between the 1840s and 1870s. A decline in usage came with the opening of Hither Green Cemetery, Lee in 1873.

SOURCES E and J Birchenough, Monumental Inscriptions in the Old Churchyard, St Margaret's, Lee (1967 typescript in Manor House Library) C P Gwilt (1830), F Bamping (2001) et al, Lee - Kent Archaeological Society website.

SUMMARY IMPORTANCE: The tomb of William Chivers (d.1807) and his wife, Lee old churchyard, Lewisham, is a handsome Coade stone chest tomb with images of upturned torches and a laurel band running around the top with finger rolled berries (and there are also finger imprints left in the clay in the opening at the top of the tomb). Despite having had its ledger slab removed, it meets the criteria for listing of commemorative monuments as a late C18/early C19 tomb of good architectural quality.