Group Of Three 18Th Century Headstones St Marys Church

This is a group of three 18th century headstones located to the south-west of St Mary's Church in Bedfont. They are made of Portland stone. The oldest headstone belongs to Mary Hall, who died in 1745. It features a pedimental top with scrolled sides and a detailed relief of a skull surrounded by palm fronds, symbolizing the Christian victory over death. The second headstone dates from 1770, but its inscription has weathered away. It displays a flaming fluted urn against crossed trumpets, which represent the Last Judgment, and is set beneath clouds, signifying the Christian triumph over the grave. The most recent headstone, erected in 1783 in memory of Sarah Lacey, shows an urn above a base decorated with an X, symbolizing crossbones, and is flanked by acanthus decoration. This group of headstones illustrates the evolution of decorative and symbolic elements in headstone design during the 18th century and serves as a notable example of their type.