Monument To John Crutchley, Lee Old Churchyard

779/15/10046 LEE TERRACE 01-JUN-07 LEE Monument to John Crutchley, Lee Old Ch urchyard

GV II

Raised ledger stone. Erected c.1727 to John Crutchley (d.1727), a citizen and dyer of Southwark . A raised ledger stone, in good condition, with a partially visible inscription and an attractive armorial roundel.

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 (1830-41, 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 OF IMPORTANCE: The tomb of John Crutchley (d.1727), Lee old churchyard, Lewisham, consists of a raised ledger slab with a partially visible inscription. The tomb meets the criteria for listing of commemorative monuments as an early C18 tomb in good condition, with an attractive armorial roundel.