Rayley Monument, Lee Old Churchyard

RAYLEY MONUMENT, LEE OLD CHURCHYARD, LEE TERRACE

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1392000
Date first listed:
01-Jun-2007
List Entry Name:
Rayley Monument, Lee Old Churchyard
Statutory Address:
RAYLEY MONUMENT, LEE OLD CHURCHYARD, LEE TERRACE
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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1392000
Date first listed:
01-Jun-2007
List Entry Name:
Rayley Monument, Lee Old Churchyard
Statutory Address 1:
RAYLEY MONUMENT, LEE OLD CHURCHYARD, LEE TERRACE

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

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

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

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

Location

Statutory Address:
RAYLEY MONUMENT, LEE OLD CHURCHYARD, LEE TERRACE

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

County:
Greater London Authority
District:
Lewisham (London Borough)
Parish:
Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:
TQ 39023 75718

Details

779/15/10034 LEE TERRACE 01-JUN-07 LEE Rayley Monument, Lee Old Churchyard

GV II Box tomb, erected c1775 to Mrs Elizabeth Rayley (d.1775). A tapering stone Grecian box tomb, with fluted angle pilasters and stylised lotus flower capitals. The top of the tomb consists of a shallow square pyramid. The tomb is in relatively good condition.

HISTORY: Lee old churchyard contains many notable monuments which reflect the area's Georgian past as a place of retirement for City merchants and those involved with Greenwich and the Deptford shipyards. In the centre of the churchyard stand the remains of the tower belonging to the former medieval Church of St Margaret (listed Grade II). The current Church of St Margaret stands to the south side of Lee Terrace (listed Grade II*). The churchyard of the current church contains later tombs, being used principally between the 1840s and 1870s. A decline in usage came with the opening of Hither Green Cemetery, Lee in 1873.

SOURCES E and J Birchenough, Monumental Inscriptions in the Old Churchyard, St Margaret's, Lee (1967 typescript in Manor House Library) C P Gwilt (1830), F Bamping (2001) et al, Lee - Kent Archaeological Society website.

SUMMARY OF IMPORTANCE: The monument of Elizabeth Rayley (d.1775), Lee old churchyard, Lewisham, is a handsome stone box tomb in the Greek Revival style. It meets the criteria for listing of commemorative monuments as a late C18 tomb of good architectural quality.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:
503659
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.

Ordnance survey map of Rayley Monument, Lee Old Churchyard

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 27-Jun-2026 at 19:32:48.

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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