Group of four churchyard tombs to the east of the Church of St Mary

Summary

Four chest tombs, dating between about 1790 and 1840.

Reasons for Designation

The group of four churchyard tombs east of the Church of St Mary is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Architectural interest:

* as fine stone chest tombs of the late C18 and early C19.

Historic interest:

* as monuments to individuals and families associated with Reading society in the C18 and C19.

Group value:

* as one of several groups of Grade II-listed funerary monuments in the churchyard of St Mary; the church is listed at Grade I.

History

The crossroads formed by the north-south route of St Mary’s Butts/Bridge Street and the east-west route of Gun Street/Castle Street is believed to be the centre of the original Saxon settlement at Reading, established sometime before the ninth century, with the lowest crossing point of the River Kennet lying a short distance away to the south. Reading was well-established by the time of the Norman Conquest, and the Domesday Book (1086) records six mills and a large estate in the town.

The Church of St Mary lies on the north-east corner of the crossroads and was the town’s primary church until the establishment of Reading Abbey in the C12. It became so again following the dissolution in the late 1530s and was largely rebuilt 1551-1555. The church and churchyard were extensively restored and ‘improved’ during the late C19, with a row of buildings along the western side of the churchyard demolished to create the open relationship between the churchyard and St Mary’s Butts seen today.

The four churchyard tombs to the east of St Mary’s Church form part of a wider group of elaborate, stone tombs within the churchyard which mostly date to the C18 and early C19. Together, they testify to the relative wealth and prosperity of Reading during this period. Between them, they record the names of the families and individuals who were prominent in Reading society in the 1700s and early 1800s.

Details

Four chest tombs, dating between about 1790 and 1840.

MATERIALS: Portland stone

DESCRIPTION: three of the four tombs are arranged, side by side, in a row from north to south alongside Chain Street.

The northernmost tomb was erected in around 1800 and is dedicated to members of the Newberry family. It is rectangular in plan with panelled sides on a moulded base with a flat projecting lid.

The central tomb was erected in around 1790 with inscriptions added in 1810. It commemorates members of the Deane family. It is rectangular in plan with panelled sides on a moulded base with a flat projecting lid. The lid is badly damaged.

The southernmost tomb was erected in around 1796 with inscriptions added up until 1829. It is dedicated to Thomas Snowden and members of his family. Rectangular in plan, it stands on a slightly taller base and has fluted corner balusters, York stone tablets and a flat projecting lid. Iron railings have been removed.

A further tomb is located further west, immediately south of a large plain tree. It is a rectangular chest tomb with a flat top, of around 1836 – the dedication is illegible. It has corner piers with cable mouldings and a projecting lid.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

39157

Legacy System:

LBS

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