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Latitude: 52.6314 / 52°37'53"N
Longitude: 1.2677 / 1°16'3"E
OS Eastings: 621228
OS Northings: 308757
OS Grid: TG212087
Mapcode National: GBR W4Y.CW
Mapcode Global: WHMTM.F3WZ
Plus Code: 9F43J7J9+H3
Entry Name: Tomb of Frances and John Abel, Earlham Cemetery
Listing Date: 11 September 2025
Grade: II
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1494005
ID on this website: 101494005
County: Norfolk
District: Norwich
Parish: Non Civil Parish
Built-Up Area: Norwich
Traditional County: Norfolk
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Norfolk
A chest tomb with horse statue, dedicated to Frances Abel, who died in 1859, and later John Abel, who died in 1881, within Earlham Cemetery, Norwich.
A chest tomb with horse statue dedicated to Frances Abel (d 1859). Executed by Amos Hibbett, monumental mason, with later inscription for John Abel (d 1881).
MATERIALS: stone.
PLAN: rectangular, orientated east to west.
DESCRIPTION: classical chest with moulded plinth, raised panels at the corners, inset inscription panels on the north and south sides, thick stone slab and sculpture of a horse on a carved base, bowing its head and stepping forward with fore leg raised, beside a carved ivy-clad tree trunk with carved acorn hanging from a branch.
On the south side, the inscription reads:
“SACRED/TO THE MEMORY OF/FRANCES/THE WIFE OF/ JOHN ABEL/ WHO DIED 11TH MARCH 1859, AGED 55 YEARS”
On the north side, the inscription reads:
“IN LOVING MEMORY OF/JOHN ABEL/ WHO DIED 5TH OCTOBER 1883/ AGED 80 YEARS/LET ALL THE WORLD BE SILENT FOR GOD ALONE IS JUDGE”
This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 5 November 2025 to correct a spelling error in the description.
Earlham Cemetery was established in 1856 following the discovery of the link between Norwich’s overflowing city churchyards and the outbreak of diseases. The churchyards were closed and replaced by the new cemetery on a thirty-five-acre site between the Dereham and the Earlham Roads.
John (‘Jack’) Abel (1803-1883) was a well-known horse-dealer and publican in Norwich, mentioned in local newspapers throughout the C19. John married Frances (‘Fanny’) Payne (died 1859), his first wife, in 1830, and they had three children. The horse statue may be compared with the tomb of 1854 for Alfred Cooke, horse breeder, in Kensal Green Cemetery, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (National Heritage List for England entry 1389167).
The tomb was executed by Amos Hibbett for the interment of Frances Abel in 1859.
The tomb of Frances and John Abel at Earlham Cemetery, Norwich is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Architectural interest:
* for the craftsmanship of the tomb chest and sculptural quality of the horse statue;
Historic interest:
* for its commemoration of John Abel, a well-known publican and horse dealer in C19 Norwich;
* as an unusual example of Victorian funerary sculpture
Group value:
* for its strong functional and aesthetic relationship with the Grade II registered Park and Garden of Norwich City (Earlham Road) Cemetery.
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