Henry Branson Chest Tomb In Churchyard About 5 Metres South East Of Chancel Church Of The Holy Cross

The Henry Branson chest tomb is located in the churchyard about 5 meters southeast of the chancel of the Church of the Holy Cross. It dates from the early 19th century and is made of an unusual unidentified stone. The tomb has a flat top and is rectangular in shape, standing about one meter high and 1.75 meters wide. It features octagonal piers at each corner and a chamfered plinth. The east and west ends have semi-circular headed bays, while the north and south fronts have large depressed segmental headed bays, all adorned with rusticated voussoirs that resemble those found on bridges. At the time of the survey in November 1984, the tomb was largely obscured by ivy. The east and west ends are inscribed, though the inscriptions are illegible. The north side is possibly blank, while the south side prominently displays the name of Henry Branson Builder. This design is considered unusual for a chest tomb.