Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB19/17/004 B

Address :
Wolfenden Tomb Lambeg Parish Churchyard Church Hill Lambeg North Lisburn Co.Antrim BT27 4SB

Townland:
Lambeg North

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Survey 2:
A

Date of Listing:
24/08/1977 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Mausoleum

Former Use
Mausoleum

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
Yes

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
165/03

IG Ref:
J2842 6668

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Owner Category

Church - C of I

Exterior Description And Setting

Free-standing pedimented neo-classical stone mausoleum, dated 1693, facing west with rubblestone enclosure, set within the grounds of Lambeg Parish Church on the south side of Church Hill Road. Sandstone ashlar up-standing mausoleum comprising three inscribed memorial plaques flanked by engaged Doric columns having Portland limestone carved bases and capitals, resting on large corbels to the ground and supporting lintel architrave and segmental pediment over. Pediment inscribed ‘WOLFENDEN, 1693’ with indecipherable inscriptions to the three plaques. All mounted on rubble sandstone wall in the form a shaped gable with concrete coping, returning as a low wall to make an enclosure with wrought-iron gate. Enclosure contains two open table tombs and a further tomb to the centre

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

The tomb is mentioned in OS Memoirs under the heading of ‘Families who bury in Lambeg’, “There are several handsome tombs and headstones in the yard, and a few of the tombs enclosed partly by a wall and partly by neat wrought iron railing. Amongst the latter is one erected to the Wolfenden or Wolfenden family, said to be some of the foreign families who settled here after the Edict of Nantes, and who assisted in establishing the manufacture of linen cloth in this neighbourhood. They resided in Lambeg, where they established extensive bleach greens. They are described ‘linen drapers’ on their tombs, and their surname spelt in 2 different ways on one tombstone, as shown above: the male Wolfendon and the female Wolfenden. The first of the Wolfenden family mentioned on their tombs is as follows: ‘Here lieth the body of Jean Wolfenden, wife to Abraham Wolfendon, decesed September 15, 1693, aged 43 years’.” (OS Memoirs, p.135) Marshall also gives a full description of the tomb and the Wolfenden family, transcribing the names of those buried there, in addition to Jean Wolfenden, “Here lyeth the body of Margaret Wolfenden, alias Waring, wife of Richard Wolfenden hwo departed this life January ye 20 1743, aged 60. Here lyeth the body of Richard Wolfenden who departed this life January the 11 of December 1743, aged 70. Here lyeth the body of M. Elizabeth Wolfenden, daughter of M. Richard Wolfenden of Lambeg, linen-draper, who departed this life 2nd May 1744 in the 40th year of her age. Opposite this stone lieth the body of Dorothy Wolfenden who departed this life 20 of November 1750, aged 39 years. Also the bodys of Mary, Abraham, Richard and Mary, children of Richard Wolfendon. Here lieth the remains of Richard Wolfenden, of Lambeg, linen draper, son of the above Richd, and Margaret Wolfenden who departed this life the 18th February 1775, aged 52 years. And Jane Wolfenden, an ornament to her sex, who died 8th August 1779, aged 46 years. Also the remains of Richard Wolfendon, son of the above Richard and Jane Wolfenden who departed this life 30th December 1816, aged 59 years. Not lost but gone before. And also Mary Wolfenden, wife of said Richard, died February 22nd 1832, aged 73 years. A sinner saved by grace. Here lyeth the body of John Wolfenden Esqr. Who died Sept. 28th 1829, aged 41 years.” Marshall continues, “The Wolfenden family is said to have been of Dutch extraction and settled in Lambeg after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685. They assisted in establishing the manufacture of linen in this neighbourhood at the close of the 17th or the beginning of the 18th centuries, and owned extensive bleach greens. Early in the 18th century they established a blanket factory on the River Road and carried on business there for a number of years. They also built the Lambeg Tuck Mill for thickening woollen blankets and this mill was owned by Thomas Wolfenden in 1787. The goods made were so superior in style and finish that considerable quantities of them were disposed of in the English market, and in Dublin the fame of the blankets was such that they found ready sale at prices far above the ordinary value of such goods. At one time about one hundred persons were employed, but the death of the proprietor, and the removal of the junior members of the family to Dublin, caused the works to be closed about the year 1825...It has been said that the church was re-built in 1737 by the Wolfenden family, but this statement lacks confirmation.” (Marshall, p.39-40) Secondary Sources 1. Day, A. and P. McWilliams, eds. “Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland, Volume 8, Parishes of County Antrim II, 1832-8” Belfast: Institute of Irish Studies, 1991 2. Marshall, Rev H C “The Parish of Lambeg” Lisburn, 1933

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation D. Plan Form J. Setting K. Group value

Historic Interest

V. Authorship W. Northern Ireland/International Interest Z. Rarity

Evaluation

Classical stone mausoleum of 1693 set in the grounds of Lambeg Parish Church. This mausoleum displays a good degree of stone masonry skills for such an early date of 1693, with wll executed Doric proportions and impressive pediment. Set within the grounds of Lambeg Parish Church among a fine collection of mausolea and grave markers, the Wolfenden Tomb is one of the earliest and commemorates an influential family, possibly of Dutch origin, who established linen and woolen mills in the area. It is thought that this seventeenth century mausoleum is the first example of classical architecture in N Ireland, and is therefore rare and very important.

General Comments

Date of Survey

12 May 2010