Brighton Extra Mural Cemetery Collingwood And Robertson And Another Tomb

Brighton Extra Mural Cemetery contains three tombs located approximately 30 metres west of the cemetery chapel.

The first tomb commemorates John Collingwood (1796-1861) and was designed by W Burnett. It is constructed from dressed Portland stone and polished granite, with scagliola detailing. The tomb takes the form of a Gothic tabernacle, featuring a square base with two offsets and recessed quatrefoils inset with scagliola shields on each side. Above this is an octagonal canopy with pointed arches to the cardinal points, incorporating an inner order of arches to the exterior and interior, with lower arches to the diagonal faces, and additional lower arches framing the taller ones to extend the canopy to the corners of the base, where squat columns of polished granite support the arches. Cross-gables are above, with quatrefoil decoration in the spandrels, flanked by pinnacles and gargoyles. A stone lantern sits at the apex, echoing the canopy's design.

The second tomb is dedicated to Frederick William Robertson (1816-1853) and is designed in the Egyptian style as a pylon. The principal inscription faces east, and a bronze plaque above depicts Robertson preaching, a low-relief work inscribed ‘WE THEN AS AMBASSADORS OF CHRIST’, modelled by Wyon. On the west side is a similar roundel, showing Robertson preaching to working men, inscribed by members of the Mechanics' Institution. A Horus symbol is present in the frieze. Robertson was a nationally recognized radical preacher at Holy Trinity Church.

The third tomb is of granite and is constructed in the Greek Revival style. It has a rectangular plan, with the lower section resembling a mausoleum and heavily battered sides. The south face is treated as a door, decorated with incised double rectangles and an unmoulded canopy above. The upper section resembles a table tomb, with simply moulded, sloping sides interrupted by panels on the east, south, and west faces; the southern panel is inscribed. The top is a simple gabled slab with an overhanging design. Decorative ironwork has been removed from the south gable.