St Mary's Churchyard
St Marys's Church A closer look at the area in the centre of the picture, reveals fresh work underway on a grave (marked by the boards in the enlargement, and a ‘newish’ vase type of memorial in the distance near the entrance to the Church.
Comparison with a modern picture gives a few clues - but none of them very helpful! The tomb on the left has had its metalwork reduced in height, while the three other memorials are not visible in the older picture.
St. Marys' 1998 Closeup of tombs
A map of part of St. Mary's Churchyard 143. Rothwell 1787 & 1805 144. Phillips 1885 145. Burningham 1877 146. Burningham1877 to 1941 147. Watkins 1844 & 1869
Referring to the list of monumental inscriptions recorded in 1983, and also the map,we have only 6 memorials remaining in that area.
Memorials 143 to 147 (top centre of frame) are listed as follows (dates of first and last burials):-
143. Rothwell 1787 & 1805
144. Phillips 1885
145. Burningham 1877
146. Burningham 1877 to 1941
147. Watkins 1844 & 1869
147 is present in the old picture - possibly it was ‘cut down’ with the last burial in 1869? 143 was last used in 1805 and is in the old picture. The cross, 144, was erected in 1885, and is NOT in the old picture. 145 & 146, the Burningham’s graves, were dug in 1877, and are not present in the old picture - unless - that is the grave being dug. (It is very difficult to get the angle exactly right in matching pictures).
Perhaps the photograph was taken between 1869 and 1877, but will we ever know?
It is very difficult to find out more details about these old tombs, but, in 2005, we had a fascinating breakthrough concerning the tomb of Isaac Royall - follow
An American Connection below.