ST JAMES’S CHURCH, WEST LITTLETON

THE LISTED CHEST TOMBS

 

INTRODUCTION

St James’s Church, West Littleton has a noteworthy collection of nine listed chest tombs on the south east approach to the entrance porch.  With the exception of two 19th century tombs attributed to the Osborne family and one to the Baldwin family, the tombs have no clearly legible inscription. 

Research by Gwynne Stock in 1997 using reflected light techniques has revealed additional inscription information..  The only tombs which are officially recorded as identified are  Nos 6, 7 and 8. Gwynne Stock visited the church on 6 December 2008 to update the project Team.  The notes below were made following that visit.  The official records (which do not include Gwynne Stock’s information) are in the English Heritage Listed Buildings register.  Some further information is held by the South Gloucestershire Council

All nine tombs are in need of conservation with three in particular assessed to be at risk (5, 6 and 7)..

 

 

Please click on the individual pictures for an enlarged view.

Tomb 1

TOMB NO 1

18th century.  Limestone with a flat top and plain plinth.  The missing side panel has been discovered lying alongside and can be seen partially exposed in this photograph.

It is possible that there is a legible inscription on the underside of the panel lying on the ground.

 
Tomb 2

TOMB NO 2

Late 18th century. Limestone.  Flat top with moulded edge, moulded base, corner pilasters with draped swags, inscription panels to all sides.

Listed Grade II  Ref  6/300 (Unidentified)
Tomb 3

TOMB NO 3

Late 18th century.  Limestone.  Heavy flat top with moulded edge, moulded base, corner pilasters with deeply cut scrolled foliage, panel to south with anthemia and scrolled carving.

Listed Grade II  Ref 6/301 (Unidentified)
Inscriptions identified by Gwynne Stock:
South-left:  Here lieth the body of Robert Alsop who died  ?
South-right:  Here also lieth the body of  Mary(?)  Alsop
Tomb 4

TOMB NO 4

Late 18th century.  Limestone.  Hipped top on plinth, raised on high plinth, moulded base, quarter balusters, cornice.

Listed Grade II  Ref  6/302 (Unidentified)
Inscriptions identified by Gwynne Stock:
South-left:  John and Mary Snell who died 8th day of June 1825 aged 35 years
Tomb 5

TOMB NO 5

18th century.  Limestone.  Flat top with moulded edge, plain plinth, carved corner pilasters, central raised panel with north and south with egg and dart surround, plain raised panel to each side, similar panel east and west with egg and dart surround, cornice.

Listed Grade II  Ref 6/303 (Unidentified)
Inscriptions identified by Gwynne Stock:
Centre:  Memory of Mary wife of William Talbot who died April 29 1790(?) aged 72 years
Tomb 6

TOMB NO 6

18th century.  Limestone.  Flat top with moulded edge, moulded plinth, quarter balusters, raised central panel to north with garland of fruit and flowers to each side with narrow raised side panels.  There is a decipherable date of 1770.

Listed Grade II  Ref 6/304 (Wise)
Inscriptions identified by Gwynne Stock:
North-centre:  In memory of Philip West late of parish of Derham (sic) who died March the 4th 1770.  Also …….wife.
Tomb 7

TOMB NO 7 (Baldwin)

Early 19th century.  Sandstone.  Flat top with moulded edge, lyre ends east and west, oval with moulded surround east and west, edges of lyre ends carved with garland of leaves, paired raised panels north and south with central draped swag and twined ribbons.  Earliest decipherable date: 1811.

Listed Grade II  Ref 6/305 (Baldwin)
Inscriptions identified by Gwynne Stock:
South-centre:  In memory of Mary Baldwin
North-left:  Underneath this lies the body of Charles Snell late of parish of Derham (sic) who departed this life on the 14th day of September 1804 aged 73 years.
North-right:  Also the body of Sarah the wife of Charles Snell who departed this life Novemeber 23rd 1814.  In the 84th year of her age.
Tomb 8

TOMB NO 8 (Osborne)

Early 19th century.  Limestone.  Flat top with moulded edge, moulded base, shaped ends east and west with garland of leaves and inscriptions; paired inscription panels to south with narrow central carved panel, to north paired oval panels with draped curtains left and right, leaves and central phoenix.  Decipherable date: 1808.  One of a pair of Osborne monuments (8 and 9).

Listed Grade II  Ref 6/306 (Osborne)
Inscriptions identified by Gwynne Stock:
North-left:  Sacred to the memory (ie no body) of Ann daughter of William and Ann Osborne who died Dec 9th 1808.  Aged 6 years 6 months.  Also of Maria their daughter who died Feb 26th 1810 aged 2 years and 6 months.
North-right:  Also to the memory of Mary, eldest daughter of William and Ann Osborne who died Feb 19 1824.  Aged 23 years.  Also of James their son who died June 2nd 1837.  Aged 28 years
South- left:  Sacred to the memory of William Osborne who died 26 October 1821. Aged 47 years
South-right:  Sacred to the memory of William Osborne who died the 18th December 1861 aged 86 years
East:  Sacred to the memory of Thomas eldest son of William and Ann Osborne who died October ? 1852 aged 47 years.  Also of William Osborne their son who died Feb 10 1853 aged 47 years

There is evidence of a stone slab (under a thin layer of soil and grass) to the south of the tomb which may form part of an Osborne family grave of those commemorated on the tomb.
Tomb 9

TOMB NO 9 (Osborne)

 

 

Early 19th century. Limestone.  Shaped top with moulded edge, moulded plinth, shaped ends east and west with garland leaves to edges, paired inscription panels north and south with central draped swag.  Earliest decipherable date: 1820.  One of a pair of Osborne monuments (8 and 9).

Listed Grade II  Ref 6/307 (Osborne)
Inscriptions identified by Gwynne Stock:
North-left:  Sacred to the memory of William Shipp Osborne who died May 1815 aged 74 years
North-left:  Also of Mary the wife of William Shipp Osborne who died Sep 12th 1820 aged 82 years

There is evidence of a stone slab (under a thin layer of soil and grass) to the north of the tomb which may form part of an Osborne family grave of those commemorated on the tomb.