Monument To Jeremiah Crutchley, Lee Old Churchyard

779/15/10032 LEE TERRACE 01-JUN-07 LEE Monument to Jeremiah Crutchley, Lee Ol d Churchyard

GV II Chest tomb. erected c.1752, to Jeremiah Crutchley (d.1752). This chest tomb has a sloping cover, with corner pilasters flanking on each side a shallow sarcophagus on lion's feet, with a cherub's head set amid a floral garland. The tomb formerly had railings. The back plates and inscription panels have all been removed. This is one of the many damaged monuments of quality in the churchyard.

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 (139-41, 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. This tomb is identifiable from Joseph Gwilt's notes of 1830.

SUMMARY OF IMPORTANCE: The monument of Jeremiah Crutchley (d.1752), Lee old churchyard, Lewisham, is a stone chest tomb with images of sarcophagi and cherub's heads. It meets the criteria for listing of commemorative monuments as a mid-C18 tomb of good architectural quality.

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.