This Grade II listed family tomb commemorates the Halls, a prominent local merchant family. The position of the tomb immediately to the south of the church's west door emphasises their status.
The tomb dates from 1812, when Ann Hall (née Powell), wife of Ambrose Hall, died and was buried. The Halls appear in Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry (1875), where it is noted that the family had a long history connected with the trade and commerce of London, being first recorded in the mid-C16; the family were members of the Drapers' Company. The family were for many years based in Hertfordshire. Ambrose Hall (1739-1815), described as being a merchant of London and of Sutton, was the son of Thomas Hall and his wife Mary, was the daughter of Sir Ambrose Crowley, who traced his lineage back to King
Edward I.
Ambrose and Ann Hall were married in 1762, and lived at The Hermitage, Walton-on-the-Hill, as well as in London. They are buried with their son, Humphrey (1763-1848) and his wife Maria Jane (née Nordaby, d 1865), and his son, Ambrose William Hall (d 1897), who was vicar of Longcross in Surrey, before moving to Debden in Essex, and his wife Anne (d 1867).
The tomb is a chest tomb of simple form, with a moulded base and reeded top. The inscriptions are engraved, and original paint, used to highlight these, survives, particularly to the north and east faces. The inscriptions are set within engraved panels, and remain consistent in style, with Roman lettering, over the 85 years during which they were made. The tomb is set on a raised base, and was originally surrounded by railings; the holes for the railings remain in the base.
The inscription on the north face reads:
'FAMILY VAULT
In affectionate Remembrance of
MRS ANN HALL
Wife of AMBROSE HALL ESQ
of Walton on the Hill in this County
and of Albion Street Surrey Road
Blest with a fine Understanding
and a Heart replete with
every Christian Virtue
She ended a truly valuable
and
exemplary Life
in this Parish
on the 27th of January 1812
Aged 77 Years'.
The inscription on the south face reads:
'This Tomb was erected by
AMBROSE HALL ESQ
of Walton on the Hill and
Albion Street, Surrey Road
both in this County
He departed this life in the 31st Day of December 1815
Aged 77 Years
His Remains are here deposited
and his Memory will be long held in dutiful
and affectionate Remembrance.'
The inscription on the east face reads:
'SACRED
to the Memory of
HUMPHREY HALL ESQre
of the Hermitage
Walton on the Hill, Surrey
who departed this life
on the 24 of August 1848
in the […] of his Age.
[…] MARIA JANE […]'.
The inscription on the west face reads:
'ANNE HALL HALL
wife of the REV.D AMBROSE
WILLIAM HALL M.A.
Rector of Debden in
The County of Essex
Died April 17TH 1867
Aged 51 Years
Also the Rev.D AMBROSE
WILLIAM HALL M.A.
sometime Vicar of Longcross
in this County
and Rector of Debden
in the County of Essex
Died April 2ND 1897
Aged 83 Years'.
