Other

(lost) Barber Beaumont tomb

Erection date: 1841

Inscription

The family vault of Jn. Thos. Barber Beaumont Esquire, was 8 feet E. from this stone.

Three years before his death in 1841 Beaumont created a tomb for himself and his family in front of the chapel, “… two immense pedestals of granite pointing out the spot as the last resting-place of himself and family, and a tomb contiguous as that of his friend Dr Fellowes.” To make the pedestals two 15-ton granite blocks arrived in 1836.

Mystery
There is a mystery here, in that photos from 1956-7 show 4 large items each with a footprint approximately 4-foot square: a tall pair, clad with facing stone, each with a low plinth and Grecian-style ornamental capitals; and a pair of near-cubes, of rough-hewn, unfinished stone. However, the arrival of only one pair is documented and the description of the cemetery design includes only two columns. We have found no record of a pair being removed and now, 2024, only the rough-hewn pair exist. Those photos showing both pairs in the park at the same time are the only evidence that there were ever 2 pairs of columns.

How the pair(s) of columns fitted into the tomb design is also a mystery. Only one map, 1896, indicates the position of the blocks (just one pair), confirmed in one of the 1956 photo (shown on this page): the tall, dressed blocks are shown, both within the central circle, east and west of each other with only about 8 feet between them. In the photo one can see that the south face of the western one of the tall pair carried an inscription which read: “The family vault of Jn. Thos. Barber Beaumont Esquire, was 8 feet E. from this stone”. But, with the columns in their photographed position that would put the vault under the other one of the pair, which makes no sense and strongly suggests that they were originally positioned differently.

A theory
One way of resolving these mysteries would be if there were only ever 2 granite blocks and that these were used in the tomb structure, supporting the cladding stones. (What we wouldn't give for an image showing this tomb!). From the descriptions we'd put the tomb with the blocks on the most southerly edge of the central circle of ornamental tombs. Then, probably when the chapel was converted into a school, the tomb was inconveniently close to the chapel so it was decided to dismantle it. Note the boundary to the school grounds shown in the 1870 map. So the cladding stones were removed and the bare, rough-hewn blocks moved northwards to their current position, which was at the time either side of a path, north of the central circle.

And here's the iffy part of our theory: a secondary pair of columns was created by setting up the cladding stones at the centre of the park inside the circle, supported this time by an internal wooden structure. All done prior to the 1956-7 photos in which the 2 pairs appear. Over time the wooden structure would have degraded, possibly the cladding stones fell off, broke, or were vandalised and when the park was redesigned (as has indeed happened since those 1956-7 photos) the whole arrangement was removed. But the rough-hewn blocks were secure from any attack by weather or vandals, and expensive to move, so they were left as we find them now.

Large tombstone
One other element of the Beaumont tomb has survived: the large slab stone now at the People’s Palace. This self-describes as being part of Beaumont's vault. In 1912 it was described as being in Shandy Park, "fixed in the wall on the left of the Shandy Street entrance to the children’s portion of the Recreation Ground”. In 1978 it was described as standing in the north-west corner of Shandy Park (possibly the same place). In 1979 it was moved to its current location. Even having studied the buildings in the northern part of the park we still have no understanding of where this huge stone might have been 1912-1978. We also have no idea of how it might have been incorporated into the design of the tomb. There is a slim possibility that it was the “plain marble tablet” beneath the bust in the chapel, but due to its size, we think not.

Dr Fellowes
One other thought: “… a tomb contiguous as that of his friend Dr Fellowes.” Dr Robert Fellowes, LL.D. (1771–1847), was a friend of Beaumont's and was named in the 1840 codicil of his will. The quote suggests that in the tomb design the Beaumont family tomb may have been paired with a tomb for Dr Fellowes (probably and his family). If so that would explain the need for a pair (rather than one) dressed stones in the design. Beaumont would probably have been disappointed to learn that Fellowes actually ended up in Kensal Green Cemetery.

Site: Barber Beaumont at Shandy Park (1 memorial)

E1, Shandy Park

Summary
Shandy Park is on the site of the former private East London Cemetery or Beaumont Burial Ground, founded by Barber Beaumont. Opened in 1837, the cemetery closed in 1852 and became a public recreation ground in 1885. It was originally surrounded by terraced housing which fronted on to the surrounding streets but, following WW2 bomb damage, these were all removed and the park enlarged to cover practically the whole block.

Cemetery design (from the 1838 Evening Standard)
"… a cemetery lately established by Mr. Barber Beaumont, containing a plot of land amounting to five acres, and capable of holding 200,000 bodies. The grounds are laid out in a tasteful style. In the centre is a chapel, with a portico of Doric columns, immediately in front of which is a circle for ornamental tombs, with grass plots, flowering shrubs, and evergreens. Two quadrilateral columns, with ornamental capitals, formed of two immense blocks of Aberdeen granite, announce that beneath are the intended resting places of Dr. Robert Fellowes and Mr. Barber Beaumont. Walks of maples, yews, limes, and poplars encompass the grounds, and a cypress grove divides it into two parts. In fine weather the grounds have become a favourite promenade. Beneath the chapel are catacombs for 700 bodies. The regulations for registry, burial, and the safety of the dead are said to be admirable." The 1870 map shows the chapel actually somewhat to the south of the centre, which is occupied by the circle for ornamental tombs.

Chapel
Following the closure of the cemetery the chapel was converted for use as a school, shown on this 1870 map. In Rome, some years before his death, Beaumont had a bust made of himself and two years before his death this was placed in the chapel, with a plain marble tablet beneath. An inscription was composed and it is likely that on his death this was inscribed on that tablet. We don’t know the present whereabouts of the bust nor the tablet.

Buildings on the edges of the park
Currently the south-west corner of the park is occupied by the Stepney Shahjalal Mosque and Cultural Centre. The north-west edge of the park holds an intriguing cluster of buildings and ruins. This can be understood by reference to some maps: This 1870 map shows a few buildings, all replaced by the time of this 1896 map. See also This 1914 map and this 1940-1960 OS map. St Faith's church, now the ruin at the centre of this cluster, was opened in 1891 and designed by J. E. K. and J. P. Cutts, as was the hall, the building still standing on the east end of the cluster. The building standing at the west end was built as the vicarage.

Sources: Friends of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park (some excellent detective work – start here), Naval & Military Gazette and Weekly Chronicle, 22 May 1841, Morning Herald (London) - 20 May 1841, Sun (London) - 23 June 1841, London Evening Standard - 25 October 1838, London Gardens Trust, London Church Buildings, Cutts, National Archives, 1870 map, 1896 map, East London History Society.