Chest tomb approximately 11 metres south east of chancel of Church of St Swithun

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 11/05/2020

SO81NW 844-1/3/449

GLOUCESTER Hempsted ST SWITHUN'S ROAD, (north side (off)) Chest tomb approximately 11 metres south east of chancel of Church of St Swithun

GV II Chest tomb of Captain John Freeman, an officer in the Royalist army, in the churchyard of the Church of St Swithun (qv). Mid C17. A chest of dressed and carved stone slabs. The cover slab with projecting moulded edges is supported on a slab at each end, carved with projecting, foliated volutes and a central escutcheon in an oval, foliated frame relief, and a slab on each side with volutes carved in low relief at the ends. On the south side slab a Latin inscription which in translation reads: "Here lieth John Freeman, Captain of Horse, son of John Freeman, of Bushley, in the County of Worcester, Gentleman, pierced through by the stroke of a gunner's bullet at the siege of Gloucester, in the camp of the King".

John Freeman said to have been killed during a sortie by the Parliamentary defenders of the city in 1643, it is believed that his funeral was attended by Charles I.

Listing NGR: SO8137617021