Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Gravestone of John Renie in Churchyard of Church of St. Mary
Monmouth, Monmouthshire, Wales
A Grade II listed building in Monmouth, Monmouthshire, designated on 10 August 2005.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Religious, Ritual and Funerary
- Date of designation
- 10 August 2005
- Locality
- Monmouth
- Town
- Monmouth
- Community
- Monmouth
- Unitary authority
- Monmouthshire
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.81326, -2.71334
- Cadw reference
- 85203
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1636 map "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1636 · Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ... (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1830 · V.3:11-15:XV.Britisches Reich. A. Kon: England. a. England ab sich: Shire:15-17, 33 (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1895 · Sheet 11. Ordnance Survey of England and Wales. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1896 · 233 Monmouth (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1901 · Sheet 14. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Location
Close to the east end of the Church of St. Mary by the division in the churchyard paths.
History
Designed and cut by John Renie for his own use supposedly to confuse the Devil who has to know the name of the dead person to be able to claim him for his own. Probably made shortly before his death in 1832.
Exterior
Sandstone. Tablet surrounded by roll-mould carries the well cut inscription -
JOHN RENIE WHO DIED 31 MAY 1832 AGED 33 YEARS
The name JOHN RENIE is inscribed continuously as an acrostic in 15 lines, each of 19 letters, and can be read in all directions, apparently some 46,000 times.
Reason for designation
Included as a gravestone of unique design and for its special historic interest close to the principal church in Monmouth.
Nearby in the register
- Churchyard Walls, Railings, Gatepiers and Gates to south-east of Church of St. MaryReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
- Priory House Conservative ClubRecreationalunder 1 mi
- Merchant HouseDomesticunder 1 mi
- Church of St. MaryReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.