Group Of 8 Monuments In The Churchyard Of The Church Of St Giles, 5 And 7/10 Of A Metre South Of The Porch

Group of eight monuments in the churchyard of the Church of St Giles, positioned approximately five and seven-tenths metres south of the porch.

The group comprises five chest tombs, two headstones, and one pedestal monument, all constructed in limestone or sandstone and dating from the late 17th century to the early 19th century.

The easternmost monument is a limestone chest tomb to Elizabeth, wife of John Walker, probably dating to the mid-18th century. It features a fielded inscription panel on the south side flanked by fielded marginal panels, with a similar panel bearing her inscription also on the south side. Fielded panels occupy each end. The monument has deep capping with moulded margin and a hipped upper capping. The inscription is now illegible.

Two matching headstones stand immediately north-west of the Walker tomb, probably dating to the late 17th or early 18th century. Both are limestone and bear traces of illegible inscriptions. Each headstone is topped with a cherub's head holding a bible in one hand and a skull in the other. The left-hand headstone displays fruit and flowers below the cherub, while the inscription panels of both headstones are draped with swags.

To the west, approximately one and a half metres away, lie the remains of a chest tomb comprising only a moulded base supporting a deep capping with moulded margin.

A further chest tomb stands approximately half a metre south of this. Constructed in limestone and sandstone, it has partially illegible inscription panels on north and south sides. The north side shows a fielded inscription panel with moulded surround and fielded marginal panels. The south side bears a similar panel with marginal panels decorated with a large flower motif and smaller flowers at the base. The ends are lyre-shaped: the west end features a crowned open bible with two cherubs' heads below, while the east end displays a cartouche-like inscription panel with partially legible text. The capping is sandstone with moulded margin.

A pedestal monument stands approximately two metres to the south-west, erected in memory of Mary, wife of Richard Liffully Senior of Elkstone, who died in 1774, and their daughter Mary. Constructed in limestone, it comprises a square plinth with two steps and a moulded base. The north side bears a fielded inscription panel with beaded margin containing Mary Liffully's inscription, beneath which runs a frieze decorated with unlobed acanthus. The south side has a similar but unused inscription panel and frieze. The east side displays a fielded inscription panel with partially legible inscription and a frieze with swag; it formerly contained roundels, possibly in a different material, now removed. The west side has a similar panel, largely obscured by ivy. A moulded pyramidal capping crowns the monument.

A chest tomb to John Mills stands approximately three-quarters of a metre north of the pedestal monument. Dating to the early 18th century but reused in the 19th century, it is constructed of limestone. The north-facing side bears a fielded inscription panel to John Mills Senior, who died in 1825, with marginal panels featuring cherubs' heads and ribbon ties linked to bunches of flowers; quarter balusters occupy the corners. The south-facing side carries an additional 19th-century inscription highlighted in black, with fielded marginal panels. An unused oval red sandstone inscription panel with moulded margin is set between irregularly shaped fielded panels above and below. A similar oval panel formerly occupied the west end; its fixing hole remains visible. Below these panels are crossed bones and an hourglass. The monument has deep capping with moulded margin.

The northernmost chest tomb, standing approximately seventy centimetres north of the Mills tomb, commemorates Thomas Mills, who died in 1753. Constructed of limestone, it bears a partially legible fielded inscription panel on the north with sunken marginal panels. The south-facing side carries an inscription to John Mills with similar marginal panels. Fielded inscription panels occupy each end. Beaded moulding below the capping continues around all sides of the monument. The tomb has deep capping with moulded margin and a hipped upper capping stone.