Monument To John Willes, Dulwich Old Burial Ground

The monument to John Willes is a stone tomb chest located in Dulwich Old Burial Ground, dated 1818. It features a brick plinth and a stone base that is treated as a vermiculated band, with a stylobate consisting of three steps. The design is Soanean in character, incorporating Roman sepulchral motifs in a unique style. The sides of the monument resemble a Roman stele, with a scallop shell set within a segmental pediment, a motif that is repeated on the longer sides. The tapering corner pilasters have honeysuckle shoulders and inverted torches carved in low relief. The monument is marked G on the plan and is situated along the southern edge, just north of the Graham tomb. The burial ground itself was consecrated in 1616 and is notable for not being located next to any church or chapel. This monument is part of a group that includes the 18th-century gates, walls, and railings of Dulwich Old Burial Ground.