Rayley Monument, Lee Old Churchyard

779/15/10034 LEE TERRACE 01-JUN-07 LEE Rayley Monument, Lee Old Churchyard

GV II Box tomb, erected c1775 to Mrs Elizabeth Rayley (d.1775). A tapering stone Grecian box tomb, with fluted angle pilasters and stylised lotus flower capitals. The top of the tomb consists of a shallow square pyramid. The tomb is in relatively good condition.

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 (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 OF IMPORTANCE: The monument of Elizabeth Rayley (d.1775), Lee old churchyard, Lewisham, is a handsome stone box tomb in the Greek Revival style. It meets the criteria for listing of commemorative monuments as a late C18 tomb of good architectural quality.