TANFIELD TOMB

The tomb of Sir Lawrence and Lady Tanfield overcrowds and dwarfs the old St Katherine's Chapel. When Sir Lawrence died in 1625, his widow arranged for the tomb to be placed in the chapel one night, without the permission of the priests or town. It has remained there ever since and become a notable feature of the building. Italian in style, the Tanfield's daughter, Elizabeth kneels at the head and their grandson, Lucius Cary, is depicted at their feet. For reasons not known, one of the femurs of the skeleton under the tomb is of human origin; the rest of the skeleton is carved from stone.