Bent Family Memorial

The Bent Family Memorial is a funerary monument dedicated to William Bent, who died in 1859. The designer is unknown. Constructed from Bath stone with shafts of Serpentine, the monument features a cruciform shrine and is currently in poor condition, as noted during an inspection in 2003. The upper section includes an octagonal spirelet above a middle section resembling an arcaded belfry. Below this is the solid core of the monument, which has pointed inscription panels on each face, set behind projecting arcaded, gabled canopies supported by six colonnettes. Two of the four canopies have collapsed, while the surviving ones are richly carved with flamboyant tracery over paired arches, enhanced with foil cusps and decorated capitals. The angles and spandrels of the canopies feature angel figures at the corners and foliate carvings elsewhere.

Historically, Bent lived at The Grove in Walton-on-Thames. His monument, now in a regrettable state, is one of the earliest in Brookwood Cemetery, which opened in 1854. It is strongly influenced by Venetian Gothic architecture as promoted by John Ruskin and would have been one of the most elaborate examples of this style in any cemetery. The monument remained in relatively good condition until recent years, as documented in John M. Clarke's book, "An Introduction to Brookwood Cemetery" (2nd edition, 2002). Despite its current condition, it remains of special interest.