This exquisite pencil study, was drawn in 1911, by Sibyl Victoria Gregg O’Neill (1882-1953). It portrays the top lid of the carved tombchest; a full-length figure of a man dressed in elaborately decorated armour. He carries a long sword and dagger, beneath his head lies his helmet, with griffin crest. Between the spurs of his boots is a figure of a bear and the letters J.B.
Sibyl married Lt. Col. of the Royal Marines Light Infantry, Charles Frederic Jerram (1882-1969) at Talland Church on 8th August 1912.
His parents had moved to Cornwall in 1891 and lived in Talland church vicarage for 30 years. His mother, Maria Florence Jerram (1854-1939) was well respected in the village and was seen as a “profound influence for good” by the local community.
Maria is buried in the East Graveyard, next to her granddaughter, the first born child of Sibyl and Charles, Sibyl Emily Loveday Jerram (9 July 1913-9 July 1913, who died soon after birth).
Sibyl Jerram, artist and illustrator, made other beautiful drawings of Talland Church, including her illustrations of the bench ends and church bells; her unique style captures ever detail.
In 1913 the new treble bell, dedicated to ‘Loveday’, was donated to the church by Lt. Col Charles Frederic Jerram and Sibyl.
Pencil Study, 1911 by Sibyl Victoria Gregg O’Neill (1882-1953), artist & illustrator.
Heraldic griffins, bulls and bears decorate the tomb which was paid for by
‘William Bevill, Knight, Sonne and Heire‘, and his wife Lady Jane,
commissioned ten years after the death of John Bevill.
John and his wife Elizabeth had four sons and four daughters, each of their prestigious marriages are recorded along the top edge of the front slate panel.
portrayed beneath a classical architectural archway
detailing horns, ‘armed’, and hooves, ‘unguled’, standing on a grassy mound.
On this end panel the top border shows an incised rhyming dedication:
“John Bevill lyved yeares threeƒcore three, et then dyd yealde to dye:
he dyd bequeath his ƒoule to god, his corps herein to lye.”
The depth of carving and detail of decoration is surrounded by an inscription: “Here lyeth ye bodye of John Bevyll of Kyllygath Esquyre who deseassed the XXth of January beynge ye age of LXIII in anno Elizabeth Regine XXI 1579 he married Elizabeth Myllytun and had Issue by her lyvyng at hys deceaes 4 sonnes and 4 daughters.
On the back plate above, there are shields of arms displaying the marriage partnerships of all sons and daughters. Other heraldic shields depict family quarterings. The side panels contain eulogising verse and a declaration from the donor, incised with a black letter gothic script.
The family motto ‘FUTURUM INVISIBLE’ – translates as ‘The future is Invisible‘
Talland Church Headstones 