Darnley Chest Tomb About 3 Metres North Of The Vestry Of The Church Of St Lawrence

The Darnley chest tomb, located about 3 meters north of the vestry of the Church of St Lawrence, is a chest tomb dating from around 1803, designed by Sir Richard Westmacott. It was restored in 1956. Made of Portland stone, the tomb features an elegant sarcophagus raised on stone blocks. The chest has shallow diagonal reeding and a moulded lid, with scrolls decorating each end. Each scroll contains a finely carved life-size putto head with wings that meet tip to tip over the chest. There are rectangular inscription panels on the long sides of the sarcophagus and roundels at each end. The main inscription commemorates Mary, Countess of Darnley, who died in 1803. The Dowager Countess lived at Great Bounds in Bidborough parish from 1790 until her death and funded a west gallery in the church for the use of Sunday School children, which remained until the south aisle was added in 1876. This tomb is considered a very high-quality churchyard monument.