Tomb of the Hall family in the churchyard of St Nicholas

Tomb of the Hall family, 1812.

MATERIALS: Portland stone.

DESCRIPTION: a chest tomb of simple form, with a moulded base and reeded top. The inscriptions are engraved, and original paint, used to highlight these, survives, particularly to the north and east faces. The inscriptions are set within engraved panels, and remain consistent in style, with Roman lettering, over the 85 years during which they were made. The tomb is set on a raised base, and was originally surrounded by railings; the holes for the railings remain in the base.

The inscription on the north face reads: ‘FAMILY VAULT / In affectionate Remembrance of / MRS ANN HALL / Wife of AMBROSE HALL ESQ / of Walton on the Hill in this County / and of Albion Street Surrey Road / Blest with a fine Understanding / and a Heart replete with / every Christian Virtue / She ended a truly valuable / and / exemplary Life / in this Parish / on the 27th of January 1812 / Aged 77 Years’. The inscription on the south face reads: ‘This Tomb was erected by / AMBROSE HALL ESQ / of Walton on the Hill and / Albion Street, Surrey Road / both in this County / He departed this life in the 31st Day of December 1815 / Aged 77 Years / His Remains are here deposited / and his Memory will be long held in dutiful / and affectionate Remembrance.’ The inscription on the east face reads: ‘SACRED / to the Memory of / HUMPHREY HALL ESQre / of the Hermitage / Walton on the Hill, Surrey / who departed this life / on the 24 of August 1848 / in the […] of his Age. / […] MARIA JANE […]’. The inscription on the west face reads: ‘ANNE HALL HALL / wife of the REV.D AMBROSE / WILLIAM HALL M.A. / Rector of Debden in / The County of Essex / Died April 17TH 1867 / Aged 51 Years / Also the Rev.D AMBROSE / WILLIAM HALL M.A. / sometime Vicar of Longcross / in this County / and Rector of Debden / in the County of Essex / Died April 2ND 1897 / Aged 83 Years’.