Graveslab in Freshford Lots

Inserted in the inner face of the wall on the W side of the C of I graveyard (KK013-023005-), 2.5m N of the entrance to the graveyard. The upper portion of a limestone graveslab (Wth 0.8m; H 0.84m) decorated in false relief with a seven-armed cross-head extending from a raised circle. The arms have fleur-de-lis terminals and only the shafts of the three main arms of the cross continue within the circle. A border (Wth 0.12-0.125m), defined by a plain margin along its top and bottom edge, runs along the dexter and sinister side and along the top. Within it, in Roman capitals, in Latin, beginning mid-way along the dexter side and running up to and along the top and down the sinister side, is an inscription in false relief. The fleur-de-lis from the three main arms extend into the border. The graveslab was in the same location when described by Carrigan (1905, vol. 2, 255) as, 'a fragment of a floor-slab or table of an altar tomb, built into the graveyard wall, beside the entrance gate, has the following around the edge, in raised Old English letters: Hic jacet Edith uxor Johais Patridge qui obit die Sepbris….'. The inscription, in Black Letter script, translates as, Here lies Edith wife of John Partridge who died on the … day of September...’. The slab is dated by Cockerham and Harris (2001, 187) to c. 1600. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 22 August 2022