1698 Headstone to South of Porch in Churchyard of the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary
1698 HEADSTONE TO SOUTH OF PORCH IN CHURCHYARD OF THE CHURCH OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, TOWNGATE
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1393859
- Date first listed:
- 24-Jun-2010
- List Entry Name:
- 1698 Headstone to South of Porch in Churchyard of the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Statutory Address:
- 1698 HEADSTONE TO SOUTH OF PORCH IN CHURCHYARD OF THE CHURCH OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, TOWNGATE
Location
Location of this list entry and nearby places that are also listed. Use our map search to find more listed places.
Use of this mapping is subject to terms and conditions .
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale.
What is the National Heritage List for England?
The National Heritage List for England is a unique register of our country's most significant historic buildings and sites. The places on the list are protected by law and most are not open to the public.
The list includes:
 |
Buildings |
 |
Scheduled monuments |
 |
Parks and gardens |
 |
Battlefields |
 |
Shipwrecks |
Local Heritage Hub
Unlock and explore hidden histories, aerial photography, and listed buildings and places for every county, district, city and major town across England.
Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1393859
- Date first listed:
- 24-Jun-2010
- List Entry Name:
- 1698 Headstone to South of Porch in Churchyard of the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Statutory Address 1:
- 1698 HEADSTONE TO SOUTH OF PORCH IN CHURCHYARD OF THE CHURCH OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, TOWNGATE
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.
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.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- 1698 HEADSTONE TO SOUTH OF PORCH IN CHURCHYARD OF THE CHURCH OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, TOWNGATE
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Lancashire
- District:
- Chorley (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Eccleston
- National Grid Reference:
- SD 51631 17830
Reasons for Designation
The headstone dated 1698 adjacent to the south porch of Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Eccleston, is recommended for designation at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * As a legible and representative example of a relief-carved late C17 headstone of modest design with scrollwork cresting, initials, date, and a folk art representation of a tulip.
Details
ECCLESTON
1837/0/10020 TOWNGATE 24-JUN-10 (Off) 1698 HEADSTONE TO SOUTH OF PORCH IN CH URCHYARD OF THE CHURCH OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
II Headstone. 1698, located between south porch of church and war memorial, sandstone.
Small stone with relief-carved scrollwork cresting to top and wider shoulders. Inscription is relief carved: Initials R G separated by tulip above horizontal line and dated 1698.
History: This headstone is dated 1698. It is the earliest example of a purpose-designed headstone in the churchyard. Other headstones are C18 or later. The rise of the headstone as a memorial type occured in the later C17, and was to become one of the most important forms of memorial in Britain.
REASONS FOR DESIGNATION The headstone dated 1698 adjacent to the south porch of Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Eccleston, is recommended for designation for the following principal reasons: * As a legible and representative example of a relief carved C17 headstone of modest design with scrollwork cresting, initials, date, and a folk art representation of a tulip.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 507687
- 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.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 07-Jun-2026 at 07:06:21.
Download a full scale map (PDF)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.