Prior Monument In Churchyard, About 13 Metres South Of Chancel, And 4 Headstones Immediately To South Of Same, Church Of St Mary The Virgin

The Prior monument and a group of four headstones are located in the churchyard of the Church of St Mary the Virgin, approximately 13 metres south of the chancel. The monument is a chest tomb from the 18th century, made of Ham stone with lias stone panels. Its base is buried, featuring single panels on each end and two panels on each side, adorned with reeded pilasters that have Ionic capitals. The tomb has no frieze and is topped with moulded coping on a hipped top. It commemorates Anne Prior, who died in 1780, among others.

The four headstones include:

1. The northernmost is a headstone from the 18th century, made of Ham stone, measuring about 800mm wide and 1 metre high. It has a chamfered back and a segmental-arched top that encloses an angel head, with scroll sides and a scroll frame. It commemorates Thomas Pryor, who died in 1769, and his wife Joan.

2. The second headstone, known as the Raesen monument, dates from the 17th century. It is made of Ham stone, measuring about 650mm wide and 450mm high, with a chamfered back and a shouldered segmental-arched head. The panel features imposts, a keystone, and toothing, resembling the panels of many chest tombs from that period. It commemorates John Raesen, who died in 1670, and his wife, and is one of the earliest surviving headstones in this part of Somerset.

3. The third headstone is another Pryor monument from the 18th century, made of Ham stone, measuring about 950mm wide and 1 metre high. It has a chamfered back and a virtually flat top, with two semi-circular panels enclosing angels, a skull in the spandril, and scrolls on the sides. The central part features a drop of ornamental frame. It commemorates Thomas Pryor, his wife Elizabeth, who died in the 1770s, and their son Thomas, who died in 1757.

4. The fourth headstone is an unidentified monument from the 18th century, made of Ham stone, measuring about 550mm wide and 500mm high. It has a flat top and a plain design with an incised border. The inscription is generally not readable, but the death date is noted as 1711.