Historic medieval tombs restored at 'Westminster Abbey of the Midlands'

Historic medieval tombs dating back to the early 1400s have been restored for future generations of visitors to enjoy at St Bartholomew's Church in the village of Tong, Shropshire.

The Grade I listed church, known as the “Westminster Abbey of the Midlands,” has had three of its six alabaster tombs preserved using charitable funds from the parish’s local landowner, Bradford Estates.

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The restoration work, undertaken by Mareva Conservation, represents the first stage of a comprehensive project to conserve the church's collection of tombs, considered to be amongst the most significant medieval monuments in England.

The church, which draws visitors from far and wide, is famed for being the burial place of many important people linked to Tong, including Sir Richard Vernon — Speaker of the House of Commons, Treasurer of Calais and Knight Constable of England. It is also home to the fictional grave of Little Nell from Charles Dickens' story The Old Curiosity Shop.

Bradford Estates, which manages 12,000 acres on the Shropshire and Staffordshire borders, provided the crucial funding support to enable the project to proceed. The completion of the first three tomb restorations has involved careful cleaning and conservation techniques to ensure the alabaster carvings are protected. However, a further three tombs still require restoration, with approximately £35,000 in funding needed to complete stage two of the project.

Bradford Estates managing director Alexander Newport said: “We are pleased to have been able to support this important heritage restoration project at St Bartholomew's Church. These medieval tombs represent an irreplaceable part of our local history and national heritage. The craftsmanship displayed in these alabaster carvings is truly exceptional, and it is vital that we preserve them for future generations to appreciate and learn from.

“As custodians of historic land and buildings ourselves, we understand the importance of maintaining our heritage assets. Supporting the restoration of these magnificent tombs aligns perfectly with our commitment to stewardship and our dedication to preserving the rich history of our local community.”

Sally Beard, a member of the congregation at St Bartholomew's Church, added: “It’s fantastic to see these magnificent tombs restored to their former glory. These are not just beautiful works of art but important pieces of our local and national heritage. The skill and care shown by Mareva Conservation has been exceptional, and we are very grateful to all our donors, particularly Bradford Estates, for making this work possible.”

Veronika Vlkova, Director of Mareva Conservation Ltd, added: “It has been a true privilege to work on these remarkable tomb monuments. Conserving them drew on the full knowledge, experience, and skill of our professional team, combining science, materials expertise, historical understanding, and years of hands-on practice. Patience and careful judgment were essential at every stage to preserve the fragile traces of medieval polychromy.

“Through extensive pre-treatment testing and precise conservation work, we revealed and stabilised original polychromy and gilding, restored clarity to alabaster and stone details, and enhanced the overall legibility of the monuments. Contributing to their preservation has been deeply rewarding, and we are proud that our work will allow their beauty, symbolism, and historic significance to be appreciated for generations to come.”

Aligned to its principle of stewardship, Bradford Estates' charitable activities are centred around a commitment to supporting heritage preservation and education in the local community.