The Churchyard
The churchyard is no longer used, burials in Broughton Astley now
take place at the cemetery on Frolesworth Road (originally Glebe land, bought from the
church by the Parish Council in 1932)
Click here for the full WI Summary of the
Churchyard Survey completed in 1981
Some memorial tablets, recorded by Nichols and by Throsby, as having
once been inside the tower on the south side, now stand outside against the north side of
the tower. Further details can be found here.
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A sundial, once affixed to a wall of the church, now lies on the ground
near the south porch. |
| The oldest headstones in the churchyard are also to be found at the south
side of the church. The oldest commemorates Zacheus Duckett, who died in 1721 (and
presumably the churchwarden recorded on one of the bells in the tower). Some other
headstones dating from the 18th century have rhyming inscriptions, or verses from
scripture. Many are made from Swithland stone. "Here lie the bodies of Zacheus
Duckett, Gent, Born Aug 31 : 1644 Buri'd Iun 3 1721 Eliz his wife (Daughter of Jn
Cooper Rect. of Willoughby Born Ian 28 : 1647 Buri'd Aug 1. 1698: Peter his brother
(Batchelor of Arts of Pembroke College in Oxford And Prefbyter of the Church of England)
Born May 1.1649 Buried.
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wifdom."
Next to this stone is probably that of his grandson:
"Sacred to the memory of Zaccheus Duckett Gent. who departed this life 2d
Jan 1806 in the 80th Year of his age. This stone was erected by his
affectionate wife Mercy Duckett
Sacred to the memory of MERCY the wife of Zaccheus Duckett GENT: who departed this life
the 12th of July 1815 in the 80th year of her age." |
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Zaccheus left a legacy of £100 in his will to the Rector and Church
Wardens "to educate eight poor children of the Parish" , and education in the
village relied upon a Charity School funded by the Church. The National School under the
auspices of the church opened in 1847 with 55 pupils on the site now known as School
Crescent.
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This Panel has no marks on the back to indicate that it was hung anywere
in the church. The writing on it says:
"Zaccheus Duckett Gent has left One Hundred Pounds to the Rector and Churchwardens of
Broughton Astley and their successors upon Trust. The interest of which is to be applied
towards the Education of such poor children of the Parish of Broughton Astley aforesaid as
shall by them the said Rector & Churchwardens and their Successors be thought to be
proper objects of Charity" |
Replanning of the churchyard took place in 1963, and at that time
included a garden of remembrance to the south side of the church. Some headstones were
re-sited at this time. The graveyard extension, opened in 1890, (at the north-west of the
church), with its marble and white headstones, was probably least affected by these
changes. Also many of the 19th century headstones made of Welsh slate, near the tower,
parallel to the footpath, remain in their original position. The church yard was closed
for burials in 1978.
Some of the re-sited Headstones
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