Information for record number MWA1221:
Vault at Church of St Nicholas

Summary A vault was found under the Church of St Nicholas during the reflooring of the chancel. The vault dates back to at least the Imperial period. Four coffins were found inside the vault, only two of which appear to have been used.
What Is It?  
Type: Vault
Period: Imperial - Industrial (1751 AD - 1913 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Beaudesert
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 15 66
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Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Description

  
Source Number  

1 Whilst working on the chancel reflooring in June 1965, a vault was exposed on the south side. It was roughly 7'6" square with a brick division forming two compartments. The vault contained four unnamed coffins, two in each compartment. Practically all the timber had rotted away from the two in the bigger compartment leaving the head lining exposed; but were empty. In the smaller compartment, the two coffins remained in semi-rotted condition. One coffin contained a small skeleton, and the other a very large one. The coffins were dated as being of c17th century by Assistant Keeper of metalwork in the Victoria and Albert Museum, 24/8/65.
2 Correspondence relevant to
1.
 
Sources
Source No: 2
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Beaudesert Church, St Nicholas, Henley in Arden
Author/originator: Hawkes, W. N.
Date: 1965
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: Vault Under Chancel, St Nicholas Church, Henley in Arden
Author/originator: Hawkes W.N.
Date: 1965
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
period Imperial 1751 AD to 1914 AD (end of the 18th century AD to the beginning of the 20th century AD)

This period comes after the Post Medieval period and before the modern period and starts with beginning of the Industrial Revolution in 1750. It includes the second part of the Hannoverian period (1714 – 1836) and the Victorian period (1837 – 1901). The Imperial period ends with the start of the First World War in 1914.
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monument COFFIN * A chest made of stone, wood or lead, used to enclose a dead body. back
monument VAULT * An underground room or building with an arched roof, often used as a burial chamber. Use wider site type where known. back
monument CHURCH * A building used for public Christian worship. Use more specific type where known. back
monument INDUSTRIAL * This is the top term for the class. See INDUSTRIAL Class List for narrow terms. back
monument MUSEUM * A building, group of buildings or space within a building, where objects of value such as works of art, antiquities, scientific specimens, or other artefacts are housed and displayed. back
monument SQUARE * An open space or area, usually square in plan, in a town or city, enclosed by residential and/or commercial buildings, frequently containing a garden or laid out with trees. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record