Needwell Monument In The Churchyard About 2 Metres South Of Porch Of Anglican Church Of St Thomas À Becket

The Needwell monument is a late 18th-century chest tomb situated in the churchyard, approximately 2 metres south of the porch of the Anglican Church of St Thomas à Becket. Constructed from sandstone, the tomb features a flat top with a moulded edge, and moulded quarter balusters at the corners, all resting on a plinth. A pair of floriated cartouches decorate the south face, with paired, similar cartouches on the north side, which are separated by carved panels. The monument commemorates Mary Needwell and other members of her family; the earliest decipherable date visible is 1774.

Pucklechurch’s history extends back to Roman times and gained importance during the Anglo-Saxon period as a local administrative and judicial centre. It was the site of Edmund, King of Wessex's hunting lodge, and later became the manor of Glastonbury Abbey, then Bath Abbey. Following the Dissolution, the village saw rebuilding and gentrification, reflected in the construction of significant houses in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. The village experienced further prosperity in the mid-19th century with the opening of local collieries.

The parish church, founded in the Norman period, primarily dates from the 13th century. Additions include a north aisle and south porch built in the 14th century, along with parts of the tower. A chantry, now the Lady Chapel, was established in 1337. Further alterations occurred in the 17th century, and major work was undertaken in the 19th century. The tomb is designated at Grade II due to its good quality design and execution, the evidence it provides of the wealth of Pucklechurch’s inhabitants in the 18th century, and its group value in relation to the Grade I listed Church of St Thomas à Becket and other listed tombs within the churchyard.