Group Of 8 Monuments In The Churchyard Of The Church Of The Holy Trinity, Circa 3 To 7 Metres South Of The Church Porch

The churchyard of the Church of the Holy Trinity contains a group of eight monuments located approximately 3 to 7 metres south of the church porch. The group includes a chest tomb and seven headstones, all constructed from limestone.

The chest tomb commemorates Richard -------, who died in 17--. It stands on a moulded plinth and features a raised inscription panel on the south side, although the inscription is now illegible. There are unused inscription panels at either end, and quarter balusters at each corner, topped with a moulded margin.

Three smaller headstones dating from the late 17th to early 18th century are situated to the north-west of the chest tomb. Three of these headstones feature cherub’s heads at the apex, two with added swags. The central headstone has flowers in bold relief and boasts an oval inscription panel with a raised margin.

A double headstone, approximately 2 metres west of the chest tomb, has an illegible inscription panel. The design incorporates a bell flower motif hanging from a central skull, and drapery and a bell flower are present over each inscription panel.

Another double headstone, 2 metres further west, is dated 1714 on the left-hand inscription panel. Hanging fruit and flowers are positioned between the panels, with drapery around them. Busts of a man and a woman are carved at the top, each depicted holding open a single bible. This is an unusual design.

Two headstones, standing in a row of three, are located approximately 3 metres south of the door to the porch and date to the early 18th century. One is a small headstone with no legible inscription, featuring a cherub's head with finely carved hands and hanging fruit and flowers flanking the inscription panel, rendered in almost three-dimensional relief. The larger headstone to the right of it, dating to the mid-18th century, showcases four cherub's heads at its apex, hanging drapery, and fruit and flowers either side; however, the carving detail is now somewhat eroded.

A further headstone, approximately 3 metres south of the previous double headstone, dates to the early 18th century. It depicts a carved woman’s head with a headdress, her hands holding a bible open, with scrolls and flowers/drapery below.

Finally, a headstone approximately 4 metres south of the chest tomb, also from the early 18th century, is without a legible inscription. It features a winged cherub’s head holding a bible, festoon and hanging drapery. This group exemplifies a varied collection of designs representative of the local, vigorous tradition.