Monument record 179/1/2 - St Mary's Churchyard

<1> Hall J, 1883, A History of the Town and Parish of Nantwich or Wich-Malbank in the County Palatine of Chester, p.245-6, 319 & 328-9 (Book). SCH80.

Remains of a churchyard cross are mentioned in a document of 1564.

The level of the churchyard has been so increased that steps lead down into the church rather than up to it. It the digging of graves,pavements and gravestones have been discovered at a depth of two yards or more. Sufficent space for new graves could not be found in the churchyard during the 1849 cholera outbreak. The last burial in the churchyard was on the 20th July, after which burials took place in the new parish burial ground.

Ormerod (source 2) mentions a coffin shaped slab with a cross ornamented with oak leaves springing from the shaft. The head is formed by four oak leaves conjoined in a circle. Is possibly relates to members of the Order of St John of Jerusalem who had lands here. It was situated in the south aisle of the nave, but was relocated to the churchyard. Further flat stones were relocated during the nineteenth century restoration of the church.

<2> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Vol.3 p.445 (Book). SCH1389.

<3> Cornerstone Archaeology, 2016, Summary report. An archaeological Watching Brief for the installation of welfare facilities at St Marys Church, Nantwich (Client Report). SCH7993.