Stephen Jackson Monument, 5 metres east of the Church of St Mary, Nettlestead

Summary

A monument to Stephen Jackson (1809 – 1855), commissioned by his wife and built around 1855. The monument was designed by Frederick Russell and carved by Henry Ringham.

Reasons for Designation

The Stephen Jackson Monument, five metres east of the Church of St Mary, built around 1855 in the Gothic Revival style, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Architectural interest:
* as a prominent monument elaborately designed in a Gothic Revival style by Frederick Russell;

* for its design and high-quality craftsmanship, the work of Henry Ringham.

Historic interest:
* as a good example of the elaborate monuments produced as part of the Victorian cult of mourning.

Group value:
* for its proximity and association to the Church of St Mary, listed at Grade I, which contains further Jackson family memorials.

History

The monument is dedicated to Stephen Jackson (1809 – 1855) who was educated at Bury St Edmunds grammar school and graduated from Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge in 1830. He was ordained as a deacon in 1830 and priest in 1833. Stephen Jackson was the eldest son of Postle Jackson, printer of Ipswich, and he succeeded his father as proprietor and co-editor of the Ipswich Journal until 1855. In February 1855 Stephen Jackson suffered an attack of “paralysis” whilst walking in Elm Street, Ipswich and died at the age of 46. His younger brother, John Jackson, was Rector of Nettlestead from 1837 until his death in 1895. Two wall plaques to the Reverend Stephen Jackson and Reverend John Jackson can be found in the chancel of St Mary’s Church. Other family memorial slabs can be found inside the church.

The monument was designed by Frederick Russell (1813 - 1869), an Ipswich painter. It was carved by Henry Ringham (1806 - 1866), ecclesiastical wood and stone carver of Ipswich; his work can be seen in churches across the East of England but most notably in the churches of Woolpit and Combs.

Details

A monument to Stephen Jackson (1809 – 1855) commissioned by his wife and built around 1855. The monument was designed by Frederick Russell and carved by Henry Ringham.

Style:
An interpretation of a medieval churchyard cross elaborately decorated in a Gothic Revival style.

Materials:
The monument is constructed from limestone.

Plan:
Three circular stone steps support the triangular base upon which three crocketed and ballflower carved gables rest. From the centre of the gables projects a tall three-sided shaft topped with a floral cross.

Exterior:
Each gable contains a shield, decoration and an inscription. The west facing side, towards the church, has a shield with a cross and crown of thorns, framed by holly. The north side has the family coat of arms flanked by bulbous leaves. To the east the shield sets the initials SJ beside a church window with a pair of dividers, set on oak leaves. The column on the west side has vine-leaves set in a diamond lozenge, to the north it displays fleur-de-lys set between four lilies and the east side is decorated with a rose climbing its full height. On each corner is an attached column topped by leaf decoration with a green man face hidden amongst the leaves. Crowning the monument is a floral cross.

The inscription reads:
‘Stephen Jackson of Ipswich M.A. hereunder resteth, who departed the XVI of February age XLVI years, CAIUS COLL CAM, AD MDCCCLV, Iesu have mercy’

Sources

Websites
Suffolk Artists, accessed 21/02/2024 from https://suffolkartists.co.uk/index.cgi?choice=painter&pid=727

Other
St. Mary's Church, Nettlestead, Suffolk, PCC Guide

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.