♫ Claire ♫
Sarcophagus Lid, Chancel, All Saints, Bircham Newton
"Within the rails of the altar, upon the North side of the Communion table, and close to the Northern Wall of the Chancel, there is placed a remarkable monumental stone, presenting the figure of a man in high relief, executed with considerable skill and finish: and, with the exception of the finer lineaments of the face and dress, which are partially effaced by attrition, - in a very excellent state of preservation.
The figure is that of a Roman priest, in full costume of high mass - his arms folded upon his breast: and holding between the fingers of the meeting hands a small effigy of a human heart. He stands - (or rather lies, for the figure is a recumbent one) - beneath a canopy of Gothic fret work, his feet placed on a cushion. At the right hand corner of the canopy, in a small niche which it exactly fills, and placed on a level with the right cheek of the figure, is the head of a child sculptued: - but whether of a boy or girl cannot from the mutilation of the features, be discerned, probably it represents the latter. The left corner of the canopy is occupied by a radiated sun or flower: - such as is not uncommon in similar monuments: the right hand corner, however, containing the child's head, is so peculiarly distinguished as to be easily remarkable.
Conjecture has long been busy as to the origin of this figure: and various rumours of concealed treasure obtained amonsth the peasantry of the village, which the present investigation alone has set at rest.
During the progress of some repairs in the chancel, in .......... I caused the ground to be carefully excavated beneath the stone in question, with a view to ascertain the existence of an arched vault or stone sarcophagus in connection with the slab. Neither of these were found: but, at the depth of 3ft 8 ins from the surface, we found the bones of a man, together with those of a child. They were placed precisely underneath the stone, and with some degree of regularity: but it was obvious from our finding the lower jaw-bone upon the breast , that they had at some previous period been disturbed from their original position. The jaw bone just mentioned was perfect, and contained the whole of the teeth, which were placed in the utmost order and perfectly free from blemish: the enamel indeed was beautiful, and from the size and regularity of the series it was mainfect that the jaw was that of a young man. Having examined the soil above and around the bones, without discovering the slightest indications of a coffin, or any coin, or relique of dress or ornament, I had the bones carefully replaced, and the grave filled up as before.
From the appearances exhibited in the preceding investigation I am disposed to conclude that the tomb occupies its original situation, but not in its original form. The stone itself was probably the actual cover of the sarcophagus, in which the present bones were originally entombed: and, at the dismantling of the high altar at the Reformation, the body of the sarcophagus was removed to serve the purposes of a tank or cistern: the bones deposited in the grave whence it was removed and the original cover replaced as a slab to mark the spot: and to deceive the surviving friends into the belief that the operculum still remained in connection with the sarcophagus. It appears that the remains are those of the parish priest: and, from the costliness of the entombment it is probable that he was of a good family: or at least the favoured confessor and intimate of some neighbouring lord of the manor, who thus did honour to the memory and the remains of his friend. The most interesting fact in connection with the investigation just made is the circumstance of discovering the bones of an infant together with those of the priest, the effigies of which child is also carved upon the cover of the sarcophagus. I cannot hazard a conjecture upon this singular union, and as there is no record or trace of the originals of these effigies, it would be impossible to arrive at any sound conclusion respecting them.
John Hague Bloom
Curate
The investigation conducted in the presence of, and attested by me, (?d.) Augustus Wm. Langton Clk.
(This is an exact copy of the report written by Mr Bloom in the Burial Register. His signature also appears in the body of the register during the years 1832-1833.)"
Sarcophagus Lid, Chancel, All Saints, Bircham Newton
"Within the rails of the altar, upon the North side of the Communion table, and close to the Northern Wall of the Chancel, there is placed a remarkable monumental stone, presenting the figure of a man in high relief, executed with considerable skill and finish: and, with the exception of the finer lineaments of the face and dress, which are partially effaced by attrition, - in a very excellent state of preservation.
The figure is that of a Roman priest, in full costume of high mass - his arms folded upon his breast: and holding between the fingers of the meeting hands a small effigy of a human heart. He stands - (or rather lies, for the figure is a recumbent one) - beneath a canopy of Gothic fret work, his feet placed on a cushion. At the right hand corner of the canopy, in a small niche which it exactly fills, and placed on a level with the right cheek of the figure, is the head of a child sculptued: - but whether of a boy or girl cannot from the mutilation of the features, be discerned, probably it represents the latter. The left corner of the canopy is occupied by a radiated sun or flower: - such as is not uncommon in similar monuments: the right hand corner, however, containing the child's head, is so peculiarly distinguished as to be easily remarkable.
Conjecture has long been busy as to the origin of this figure: and various rumours of concealed treasure obtained amonsth the peasantry of the village, which the present investigation alone has set at rest.
During the progress of some repairs in the chancel, in .......... I caused the ground to be carefully excavated beneath the stone in question, with a view to ascertain the existence of an arched vault or stone sarcophagus in connection with the slab. Neither of these were found: but, at the depth of 3ft 8 ins from the surface, we found the bones of a man, together with those of a child. They were placed precisely underneath the stone, and with some degree of regularity: but it was obvious from our finding the lower jaw-bone upon the breast , that they had at some previous period been disturbed from their original position. The jaw bone just mentioned was perfect, and contained the whole of the teeth, which were placed in the utmost order and perfectly free from blemish: the enamel indeed was beautiful, and from the size and regularity of the series it was mainfect that the jaw was that of a young man. Having examined the soil above and around the bones, without discovering the slightest indications of a coffin, or any coin, or relique of dress or ornament, I had the bones carefully replaced, and the grave filled up as before.
From the appearances exhibited in the preceding investigation I am disposed to conclude that the tomb occupies its original situation, but not in its original form. The stone itself was probably the actual cover of the sarcophagus, in which the present bones were originally entombed: and, at the dismantling of the high altar at the Reformation, the body of the sarcophagus was removed to serve the purposes of a tank or cistern: the bones deposited in the grave whence it was removed and the original cover replaced as a slab to mark the spot: and to deceive the surviving friends into the belief that the operculum still remained in connection with the sarcophagus. It appears that the remains are those of the parish priest: and, from the costliness of the entombment it is probable that he was of a good family: or at least the favoured confessor and intimate of some neighbouring lord of the manor, who thus did honour to the memory and the remains of his friend. The most interesting fact in connection with the investigation just made is the circumstance of discovering the bones of an infant together with those of the priest, the effigies of which child is also carved upon the cover of the sarcophagus. I cannot hazard a conjecture upon this singular union, and as there is no record or trace of the originals of these effigies, it would be impossible to arrive at any sound conclusion respecting them.
John Hague Bloom
Curate
The investigation conducted in the presence of, and attested by me, (?d.) Augustus Wm. Langton Clk.
(This is an exact copy of the report written by Mr Bloom in the Burial Register. His signature also appears in the body of the register during the years 1832-1833.)"