ASHWELL, RUTLAND

The church of St Mary, Ashwell is one of just two churches in Rutland to have a Vale of Belvoir Angel stone, the other being Cottesmore which has two.

The stone here reads 'Here lies the body of James the son of Tho Sketh by Elizabeth his wife died May 22nd 1717 in the   year of his age.

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The space to record the age of the deceased is left blank; indicating that this was probably a very young child. This is backed up by the script at the bottom of the gravestone which reads 'short was his race long is his rest God takes them soon whom he loves best'. 

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The hourglass and crossed bones are included at the top of the gravestone, along with the date of death, 1717 recorded at the top. 

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