May Family vault approximately 26 metres south west of the tower of the Church of St Mary

TQ 6349 7/25

HADLOW CHURCH STREET May Family vault approximately 26 metres south west of the tower of the Church of St Mary

GV II Family vault. Dated 1855 of Walter Barton May of Hadlow Castle (q.v.). Brick faced with sandstone ashlar. Gothic family vault. It stands in the north west corner of the churchyard with only the east long side and south end exposed. It has been neglected and has lost some of its detail. Corners have angle buttresses with weathered offsets and rise to finials with panelled sides. Moulded cornice at eaves level and crenellated parapet. On eastern long side parapet rises over a carved coat of arms and on southern end wall rises to a low pitch gable surmounted by a broken finial. Both sides contain a row of arch-headed niches under a continuous hoodmould, three on the side and two on the end. Only the eastern ones are inscribed. The centre one records the death of Walter Barton May in 1855 along with two infant sons. Those either side record the deaths of other members of his family. The vault is surrounded by stone coping which once took iron area railings.

It was Walter Barton May who was responsible for much of the work at Hadlow Castle (q.v.) which stands just the other side of the churchyard wall.

Listing NGR: TQ6341249701