The tomb of Vice-Admiral Robert Plampin
THE TOMB OF VICE-ADMIRAL ROBERT PLAMPIN
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed building
- List Entry Number:
- 1390858
- Date first listed:
- 22-Jun-2004
- Statutory Address:
- THE TOMB OF VICE-ADMIRAL ROBERT PLAMPIN
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed building
- List Entry Number:
- 1390858
- Date first listed:
- 22-Jun-2004
- Date of most recent amendment:
- 26-Jul-2011
- Location Description:
- Located in St Mary's Churchyard, Wanstead, to the east of the church
- Statutory Address 1:
- THE TOMB OF VICE-ADMIRAL ROBERT PLAMPIN
Location
- Statutory Address:
- THE TOMB OF VICE-ADMIRAL ROBERT PLAMPIN
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Greater London Authority
- District:
- Redbridge (London Borough)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- TQ4098087798
Summary
Churchyard memorial tomb of Vice-admiral Robert Plampin c1834. Designer unknown.
Reasons for Designation
The tomb of Vice-admiral Robert Plampin in St Mary's Churchyard, Wanstead is listed for the following principal reasons:
Architectural interest: as a high quality late-neoclassical memorial tomb. Pedestal tombs are encountered from the early C18 onwards and the refined Roman-inspired upper section of this tomb marks it out as an unusual memorial of its day;
Historical interest: commemorates a noted naval officer of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars;
Group value: the churchyard contains numerous other high quality memorials and is a reminder of the status Wanstead enjoyed during the Georgian period as a distinguished place of suburban residence. St Mary's Church is listed Grade I and is within the Grade II* Wanstead Park, Registered Park and Garden.
History
Robert Plampin (1762-1834), son of John Plampin of Chadacre Hall, Suffolk, entered the Royal Navy at age 13 in 1775. He subsequently fought in various theatres of the American War of Independence, French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars, making a name with the capture of the French ships Henriette and Bellone in the Indian Ocean in 1806. By 1814 he had risen to the rank of rear-admiral and in November 1816 was appointed commander-in-chief on the Cape of Good Hope and St Helena station where he was responsible for the naval forces enforcing the captivity of Napoleon on the island. Plampin was promoted to vice-admiral in 1825 and died in Florence in 1834.
Details
MATERIALS: Portland stone and Carrara marble, over a York stone base. Original iron railings have been lost.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial comprises a strigilated column with inscription panel to the centre of the shaft, supporting an urn. It stands on a pedestal with a worn carved upper section bearing naval trophies and a heraldic achievement.
This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 29/07/2011
(Formerly listed as The Tomb of Admiral Robert Pamplin)
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 492315
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 04-Jun-2026 at 18:34:21.
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