FRANCIS MONUMENT IN THE CHURCHYARD ABOUT 21 METRES SOUTH OF NAVE OF ANGLICAN CHURCH OF ST THOMAS À BECKET

FRANCIS MONUMENT IN THE CHURCHYARD ABOUT 21 METRES SOUTH OF NAVE OF ANGLICAN CHURCH OF ST THOMAS À BECKET, WESTERLEIGH ROAD

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Overview

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1213068
Date first listed:: 15-Aug-1985
List Entry Name:: FRANCIS MONUMENT IN THE CHURCHYARD ABOUT 21 METRES SOUTH OF NAVE OF ANGLICAN CHURCH OF ST THOMAS À BECKET
Statutory Address:: FRANCIS MONUMENT IN THE CHURCHYARD ABOUT 21 METRES SOUTH OF NAVE OF ANGLICAN CHURCH OF ST THOMAS À BECKET, WESTERLEIGH ROAD

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Date:: 1999-08-30
Reference:: IOE01/01557/20
Rights:: © Mr John A Long. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1213068
Date first listed:: 15-Aug-1985
Date of most recent amendment:: 18-Feb-2011
List Entry Name:: FRANCIS MONUMENT IN THE CHURCHYARD ABOUT 21 METRES SOUTH OF NAVE OF ANGLICAN CHURCH OF ST THOMAS À BECKET
Statutory Address 1:: FRANCIS MONUMENT IN THE CHURCHYARD ABOUT 21 METRES SOUTH OF NAVE OF ANGLICAN CHURCH OF ST THOMAS À BECKET, WESTERLEIGH ROAD

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: FRANCIS MONUMENT IN THE CHURCHYARD ABOUT 21 METRES SOUTH OF NAVE OF ANGLICAN CHURCH OF ST THOMAS À BECKET, WESTERLEIGH ROAD

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:: South Gloucestershire (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Pucklechurch
National Grid Reference:: ST 69929 76507

Details

PUCKLECHURCH

1096/4/214 WESTERLEIGH ROAD 15-AUG-85 (East side) FRANCIS MONUMENT IN THE CHURCHYARD ABO UT 21 METRES SOUTH OF NAVE OF ANGLICAN CHURCH OF ST THOMAS À BECKET (Formerly listed as: WESTERLEIGH ROAD FRANCIS MONUMENT IN THE CHURCHYARD ABO UT 21 METRES SOUTH OF NAVE OF CHURCH O F ST THOMAS OF CANTERBURY)

GV II DESCRIPTION The Francis monument lies in the churchyard of St Thomas à Becket, Pucklechurch, about 21 metres S of the nave. An early-C19 chest tomb, commemorating a William Francis (d. 1803) and other members of the Francis family. The limestone monument has a flat top with a moulded edge, a moulded plinth, and quarter baluster corners with incised detail. To S, paired octagonal panels with central twined ribbons; to N, paired circular panels surrounded by palm leaves, with 3 putti, the lowest of which has largely been lost through deterioration of the stone. The eastern face of the tomb has an oval panel, and the western face a shield panel with ribbon above and flambeaux below.

HISTORY Pucklechurch, which appears from the archaeological evidence to have largely developed in the Roman period, was an important settlement from the later Anglo-Saxon period, when it became the administrative, military and judicial centre of the Hundred which bears its name. The settlement, once forming parts of the ancient Forest of Kingswood, may have been a royal burh in the later Saxon period. Certainly it was the site of Edmund, King of Wessex's hunting lodge; he was murdered in Pucklechurch in AD946, and his body taken to Glastonbury Abbey for burial. The manor of Pucklechurch was formally granted to Glastonbury Abbey in AD950, and was subsequently transferred to Bath Abbey in the C13. After the Dissolution in the C16, the village underwent a phase of rebuilding and gentrification, with a number of large houses erected in the C16, C17 and C18, indicating that the settlement was relatively wealthy in this period. A further phase of expansion and prosperity occurred from the mid-C19, when a number of collieries opened in the parish.

The parish church was founded in the Norman period, and was perhaps a royal foundation, but the current building dates largely from the C13; a north aisle and south porch were built in the C14, together with parts of the tower. A chantry, now the site of the Lady Chapel, was set up by William de Cheltenham in 1337. There were further alterations in the C17, coinciding with the increased prosperity of the settlement after the Dissolution, and there were two major phases of work in the C19, the first, by R C Carpenter, in 1846-56, and the second, by J D Sedding, in 1889. These included some reordering, and the replacement of some windows, the introduction of new fittings, and some stained glass. There has been some further, minor refitting in the C20.

The churchyard contains a number of noteworthy tombs.

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION The Francis tomb is designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

* Design interest: as a good example of an early-C19 chest tomb, of striking design * Group value: for its relationship with the Grade I-listed church of St Thomas à Becket, and with other listed tombs

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:: 397413
Legacy System:: LBS

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.