Tomb - chest tomb

The National Monuments Service's description

Associated with the medieval church of Burnchurch (KK023-072001-), in the W porch of the ruined C of I church within the graveyard (KK023-072002-).

A rectangular side panel of a chest tomb (L 1.14m; H 0.49m; T 0.15m). The panel is decorated with the symbols of the Passion in false relief, within a raised plain border. The decorative scheme is dominated by the figure of the crucified Christ on a large plain cross. There is a sun motif on the upper dexter side of the cross and a moon on the upper sinister side. Beneath the arms of the cross, in Latin in black letter script, is an inscription under the dexter arm and possibly initials under the sinister arm, ‘R I F D’. Beneath both, on either side of the cross, are two sets of scourges. The dexter end of the panel is decorated with a sponge on a stick, with a pincers holding three nails below four dice on its dexter side, and with a seamless garment below a hammer on the sinister side. The sinister end of the panel is decorated, from dexter to sinister with a scourging pillar with rope twisted around it, a ladder and a spear. 

The form of decorative capitals, with the use of dots within the letters, was in use around the mid-16th century.

Within the graveyard there are also a number of medieval graveslabs (KK023-072004- to KK023-072010-), another side panel from chest tombs (KK023-072008-) and the mensa of a chest tomb (KK023-072005-).

 

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly