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Grave enclosure 2001
The Grave Enclosure 2001

The Grave Enclosure, a Grade II listed monument, is in the care of Whitchurch Parochial Church Council. In 2003 a grant was awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund to repair the walls and restore the decorative stone carving and railings. This work should be completed in 2006. Maintenance of the restored monument is the responsibility of the Gwillim Memorial Management Committee.

 

The Right Reverend Anthony Priddis, Bishop of Hereford, re-dedicates the Gwillim grave enclosure in June 2004.

In September 2003, Mary Beacock Fryer, a Canadian Historian of Toronto and author of three biographies of Elizabeth Posthuma, John Graves Simcoe (co-author) and Francis Simcoe, one of their sons, came to Whitchurch and kindly opened the St. Dubricius Church Fête. Major Diane Kruger, of the Queens York Rangers, Toronto, Governor Simcoe's original regiment, also came. She keeps the Archives of the Regiment and maintains contact with activities in England.

Bishop of Hereford re-dedicates the enclosureThe Right Reverend Anthony Priddis, Bishop of Hereford, standing beside the original tomb.

Gwilliam Grave Enclosure restoration plaque
This plaque was erected in June 2006 on the completion of the restoration of the Gwilliam Grave Enclosure in the Graveyard of St. Dubricius Church.


Coat of Arms on the enclosure
The restored Gwillim Coat of Arms.


'Impensis' means 'at the expense of'.
This shows the Gwillim Lion, for the husband, Thomas Gwillim, and quarterings of the Steward family – chequers and the Elmes golden elm leaves for the wife Elizabeth, nee Steward. This couple built the Grave Enclosure.
Although the spelling ’Stuart’ is used on the inscription on the table tomb of his mother-in-law, this was possibly a political tactic used by the family to emphasize their loyalty to the Stuart King Charles ll.
Previously, their Grandfather, Sir Gilbert Pickering, had supported Cromwell, and could have faced retribution or even execution

Link to information about the Lady in the Tomb

This is an extract from a document concerning the lady buried in the main tomb in the Gwillim Grave Enclosure. To obtain the full document as a PDF please click here.

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Mary Beacock Fryer (in red) and Major Diane Kruger at the St. Dubricius Church Fête, 2003HRH The Duke of York addressing the Queens York Rangers in Ontario

Left Picture, Mary Beacock Fryer (in red) and Major Diane Kruger at the St. Dubricius Church Fête, 2003.
Right picture, HRH The Duke of York addressing the Queens York Rangers in Ontario.