Clifton St Mary

Churchyard

View of the western section
of the churchyard

Grave marker to
Lazarus Oldham
(1729)

The churchyard is roughly square in shape with the church offset slightly to the east of centre. It has walls and gateways that date back to the late 18th and 19th centuries. They were to some extent restored in the late 20th century. They are composed of ashlar and brick. There are a few mature trees.

To the north-east, there stands a formal gateway from the late 18th century in the gothic style having a round-arched opening under a shaped gable flanked by clustered columns. The gate is manufactured from wrought iron. A brick wall surrounds the churchyard with two further gates, one of which provides access to and from Clifton Hall. These walls and gateways are separately listed, grade II.

The oldest gravestone appears to be a stone situated on the south side of the church. The shape of this, a cross, possibly suggests an early date.

There are two stones bearing the traditional ‘Belvoir Angels’ and many that are distinctive in their doggerel verse.