Description

SJ 87 SE
8890 7019
1/19

GAWSWORTH C.P.
(Off) MAGGOTY LANE
Maggoty Johnson's Wood

Maggoty Johnson's Grave

II

GV

Table tomb. Dated 1773. Stone slab on C20 brick plinth. Rectangular
stone raised on brick base. Inscription reads: Under this Stone/
Rest the remains of Mr SAMUEL JOHNSON/ Afterwards enobled with the
grander Title of/ LORD FLAME/ Who, after having been in his Life
distinct from other Men/ By the Exentricities of his Genius/ Chose
to retain the same character after his Death/ And was at his own
Desire buried here May 5th/ A.D. MDCCLXXIII aged 82/ Stay thou whom
Chance directs or ease persuades/ To seek the Quiet of these Silven
shades/ Here undisturbd hid from Vulgar Eyes/ A Wit. Musician.
Poet. Player lies/ A Dancing Master too in Grace he shone/ And all
the arts of Opera were his own/ In Comedy well skilled he drew Lord
Flame/ Acted the part and gained himself the Name/ Averse to Strife
how oft he'd gravely say/ These peaceful Groves should shade his
breathless Clay/ That when he rose again laid here alone/ No friend
and he should quarrel for a Bone/ Thinking that were some old lame
Gossip nigh/ She possibly might take his Leg or Thigh/.

Adjoining this is a second commemorative and admonitory slab. C19.
Ashlar on brick foundations. Rectangular stone slightly raised above
ground. Inscription reads: If chance hath brought thee here or
curious eyes/ To see the spot where this poor jester lies/ Thoughtless
jester, even in his death/ Uttering his jibes beyond his latest
breath/ O Stranger pause a moment pause and say/ "Tommorrow shouldst
thou quit thy house of clay/ where wilt thou be my soul?/ In
Paradise?/" Immortal spirit would thou then be blest/ Wailing thy
perfect bliss on Abraham's breast/ Boast not of silly art or wit or
fame/ Be thou ambitious of a Christian's name/ Seek not thy bodies
rest in peaceful grove/ Pray that thy soul may rest in Jesus' love/ O
speak not lightly of that dreadful day/ When all must rise in joy or
in dismay/ When spirits pure in body glorified/ With Christian
heavenly mansions shall abide/ While wicked souls shall hear the
Judge's doom/ Go ye accursed into endless gloom/ Look on that stone
and this and ponder well/ Then choose twixt Life and Death/ Twixt
Heaven and Hell/.

Listing NGR: SJ 88890 70178

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q96023302

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)