Group of Three Chest Tombs to William Lane, Charlotte Higgon and Sarah Lane; in the South of St Mary's Churchyard

Group of Three Chest Tombs to William Lane, Charlotte Higgon and Sarah Lane in St Mary's Churchyard, Poulton

This group of three chest tombs, dating from the later 18th and earlier 19th centuries, stands in the burial ground of the former church of St Mary in Poulton. The churchyard, which is roughly square, now sits within the grounds of Priory Farm House and is bounded on three sides by later buildings, with the west side defined by a dry-stone wall with double gates. The three tombs are arranged in a single row running northwards, each oriented east-west.

The first tomb commemorates William Lane (died 1823) and is constructed from sandstone. It stands on a cyma recta moulded plinth and features a roll-top capping stone with cornice and architrave. The long sides display central moulded panels flanked by fluted pilasters. The south side carries an inscription to William Lane and his wife Jane, though much of this is badly weathered, with a further inscription on the west end panel.

The second tomb commemorates Charlotte Higgon (died 1819) and is built from oolitic Cotswold limestone. It rests on a moulded base with a moulded cornice and hipped capstone, its panels defined by incised beads. The south side is inscribed: "HERE LIES THE BODY OF CHARLOTTE HIGGON WIFE OF WILLIAM HIGGON SURGEON OF CRICKLADE AND DAUGHTER OF HENRY WILLIAMS ESQ OF CARDIFF GLAMORGANSHIRE WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE MAY 22ND 1819 AGED 42 YEARS ALSO AN INFANT DAUGHTER." The north side bears an inscription to William Higgon, aged 79 years, though the remainder is much weathered.

The third tomb commemorates Sarah Lane. Dating to around 1800, though possibly slightly earlier with a later inscription of 1851 added to the north, it stands on a moulded plinth. The monument features a reeded frieze with rosettes below an elaborately moulded cornice and capstone. The south side displays an oval cartouche within a rectangular panel, decorated with carved winged putti heads and foliage in the spandrels, flanked by relief-carved flowers and foliage. The cartouche carries the inscription "TO THE MEMORY OF SARAH THE WIFE OF HENRY LANE WHO DIED MAY ...?1800 AGED ... YEARS." The north side has a similar layout but with reeded margins rather than floral ones, inscribed "SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF HENRY LANE OF MARSTON MAISEY IN THE COUNTY OF WILTS WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE APRIL 3 1851 AGED 71 YEARS ...." with the remainder weathered. Further inscriptions appear on both end panels.

Historical Context

The parish of Poulton was part of Wiltshire until 1844, when it was transferred to Gloucestershire. The parish church of St Michael dates from the 12th century. In 1337, Sir Thomas Seymour, lord of the manor of Poulton, founded and endowed a chantry in the parish church, and in 1348 constructed a chapel for five chaplains. In 1350, an agreement between Seymour and the king granted the majority of the manor and the advowson of Poulton to the Priors and Canons of Sempringham (the Gilbertines), who established the Priory of St Mary for canons only, adopting the chapel of 1348 as the priory church. In 1387, the priory took over the earlier chantry in the parish church. In 1389, Alice Seymour was granted licence to remove the remains of her ancestors from the parish church to the priory church, suggesting the parish church may have been falling out of use by this time.

Few records survive of the priory after this date until the Dissolution. The priory was surrendered by the Bishop of Llandaff, head of the order at the time, and Thomas, Prior of Poulton, on 16 January 1539. At surrender, the house consisted only of the prior and two canons, each of whom received a pension.

Following the Dissolution, the priory church, remaining dedicated to St Mary, continued in use as the parish church until it was replaced by a new church dedicated to St Michael, built further north in the new village centre in 1873. The priory churchyard of St Mary, containing a large collection of chest tombs and headstones dating from the later 17th century to around 1873, was left in place, with a new burial ground created adjacent to the new church. In the later 20th century, the large number of grave markers and headstones were moved to the edges of the churchyard, leaving only the larger tombs in their original positions.