This is the grave of Henry, Mary and John Crutchley. It is located in the churchyard of St James the Great, Longdon, Staffordshire, one of a number of Crutchley memorials in this place of rest. This particular memorial is relatively early by English standards, dating to 1773. The memorial was fashioned from slate, and so it remains in excellent condition to this day.

As yet I have not been able to link this particular branch of the Crutchley family to my own. However, I do believe that these people are ancestors due to references to Longdon in my own ancestor's records. In the 1851 census my great, great, great, great grandfather William Crutchley (born about 1775) stated he was born in Longdon. I have not yet found documentary evidence to confirm William's census statement, but the fact that there were Crutchleys in Longdon at the time of William's birth is at least partial confirmation.

Worship has been taking place on the site of the church of St James the Great, Longdon since Saxon times, parts of the present building date from the thirteenth century. Two images of the church are shown below.

a

St James the Great, Longdon, Staffordshire.

Entrance, St James the Great, Longdon, Staffordshire.