Post-medieval Britain and Ireland in 1988

Abstract

AVON: BITTON, ST. MARY'S CHURCH (ST/68206933). M. Ponsford reports that a survey of the Creswicke family vault was conducted as part of the faculty granted to the parochial church council to repair the floor of the aisle. The vault entrance was discovered below the central aisle 13.25m. to the W. of the chancel arch. Investigation of an uneven floor had led to its discovery and a survey was undertaken prior to repairing the floor and sealing the vault. The survey was carried out with the kind permission of the incumbent, Canon G. Mitchell, and the assistance of the churchwardens, Mr. C. Richards and Mr. J. Bennett. The vault was initially identified from two Creswicke family ledger stones to the E. of the vault entrance and a wall tablet on the nave wall. The vault entrance was capped with large slabs of Pennant Sandstone, 0.40m. below the present-day church floor. The entrance contained five steps made of Pennant Sandstone, 1.08 x 0.30m. between walls of white lias. The steps led into the N.-W. corner of the burial vault, stopping 0.55m. above the vault floor, while the entrance roof projected into the barrel-vaulted roof in an arch constructed with ashlar oolithic limestone. The rectangular vault, aligned N.-S., measured 4.15 x 2.50 >< 1.84m., and both walls and roof were constructed of white and blue lias with some oolite. The floor was covered with Pennant Sandstone flagstones. An extended adult burial with head to the W., and partly covered with decayed wooden-coffin remains, was found against the N. wall near the entrance. The whole of the floor was covered with a deposit of decayed wooden coffin. South of the entrance an adult lead coffin lay on its side. The lid was decorated with a diaper pattern. Four more adult lead coffins occupied the S. half of the vault with their heads to the W. Three coffins lay on the floor, the middle coffin partly on its side, while the fourth lay askew on top of the others. This coffin was also decorated with diaper pattern. The positions of the lead coffins suggest that they had originally been stacked and had subsequently collapsed northwards.