Castle And Three Unidentified Memorials In The Churchyard Circa 5 Metres South Of South Porch To Church Of St Mary

The listing describes a chest tomb and three headstones located in the churchyard approximately 5 meters south of the south porch of the Church of St Mary.

The chest tomb, likely from the early 18th century, is made of two types of limestone. A survey from 1879 records it as belonging to Walter Castle, dated 1780. It features a thick top with a moulded edge and wide-spaced dentils, typical of 17th-century design. The ends are boldly shaped like lyres, with oval panels and cable moulding, while the north and south panels have bolection moulding flanked by floral drops. The base is also moulded. The tie top, made of Minchinhampton stone, is characteristic of many in the churchyard and may have been reused, as its design resembles styles from the late 16th century. The lyre ends suggest a late 17th or early 18th-century origin. This monument leans slightly to the north, which is a rare sign of instability in the churchyard.

About 3 meters south of the chest tomb is a headstone from the 18th century, made of limestone. It has a bold scrolled top with pilaster sides, a sunk center, and a raised panel featuring a coat of arms with three castles, likely representing the name of the occupant.

Immediately north of this headstone is another 18th-century headstone made of limestone. It has a square top with two small raised crosses and a floral boss. The front features a small raised margin and a frieze with a full-height Latin cross, also raised from the panel, flanked by coats of arms, one of which is almost certainly associated with Castle.

Finally, about 2 meters west of the chest tomb is an early 18th-century headstone made of limestone. It has a heavy raised margin of unusual composition, featuring a boldly modelled cherub with wings, flanked by elongated human figures standing on skulls; one figure has lost its head. The main panel is sunk and square.

This group of memorials is notable, with the headstones made from Minchinhampton Shelly stone, which weathers more favorably than the paler freestones.