The Lych gate is where the priest meets the corpse before proceeding to the burial service.They date from way back in 15th - 16th century. In the days before coffins the shroud covered corpse would be placed on a bier here to be carried into the church.
This church, St Marks, was built in 1900 and is still regularly used for church services and special ocassions such as weddings and funerals.
This lych gate was made in 1926 along with the stone wall either side to commemorate the service given by the two men named on the plaque. Who are they? Three local men hauled the stone up from the river behind the cemetery and did all the work themselves. Messrs Ackland, Openshaw and Wheatley are now all buried in the cemetery just down behind the church.It is a very pleasant wander to look for their graves.