Inventory Site Record

A church has existed here since medieval times and is recorded in the Domesday Book. The current church of St Nicholas was rebuilt in 1862-4 when the old parish church was too small for Sutton's growing congregation. It is surrounded by a churchyard with numerous trees including fine yews, and among the many tombs is an interesting mausoleum of 1777 to James Gibson and his family. Other old gravestones include two inscribed C17th slab stones and an early C19th monument to a blacksmith with an inscribed verse.

Previous / Other name:

Sutton Parish Church

Site location:

St Nicholas Road, Sutton

Postcode:

SM1 1ST

What 3 Words:

pots.oval.lions

Type of site:

Churchyard

Borough:

Sutton

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

unrestricted. Church open on Thursdays

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Events:

Public transport:

Rail: Sutton. Bus. 80, 151, 164, 213, 280, 407, 413, 420, 726.

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Research updated:

01/10/2010

Last minor changes:

19/07/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news.

Chertsey Abbey, having probably acquired Sutton in the first half of the C8th, is likely to have founded St Nicholas church. The current church was rebuilt by Edwin Nash in 1862-4, although a new wooden gallery had been erected to increase the seating capacity in the 1820s. In the churchyard are many tombs including an interesting mausoleum of 1777 to James Gibson and his family, which has a pyramidal roof, rusticated quoins and door surround. The tomb is something of a mystery as there is no known connection between Sutton and the Gibsons. James Gibson had a varied career as a sailor, distiller, wine merchant, miller, and Master of the Worshipful Company of Ironmongers. The tomb was erected under the will of his daughter Mary Gibson and it is still inspected by the church on 12th August each year in accordance with her will. Other old gravestones in the churchyard include two inscribed C17th slab stones by the north aisle wall, and, parallel to the chancel window is an early C19th monument to a blacksmith with an inscribed verse. Under a thorn tree in line with the west door of the church, but now no longer visible, there is also said to have been a gravestone with an inscription that made reference to Mrs Elizabeth Pistor (d.1690), and two of her children 'who dyed young in the Great Sickness A1665' (see W G Bell 'The Great Plague in London', 1924, p 284, who wrote that he knows of no other inscription of this kind).

Sources consulted:

Bridget Cherry & Nikolaus Pevsner, London 2: South, 1983; LB Sutton Heritage website; Charles Marshall, 'A History of the Old Villages of Cheam and Sutton', 1936 p88.

Grid ref:

TQ257641 (525750,164150)

Size in hectares:

0.3

Site ownership:

Church of England

Site management:

Church of England

Date(s):

medieval; 1862-4

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

LBII: St Nicholas Church, Gibson Mausoleum of 1777

On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens:

No

Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965:

No

Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931:

No

Local Authority Data

The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.

On Local List:

No

In Conservation Area:

No

Tree Preservation Order:

No

Nature Conservation Area:

Yes - Local Importance

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

No

Other LA designation:

None

St Nicholas Churchyard - Gibson Mausoleum - Photo: Colin Wing
Date taken: 07/10/06 13:32

Click a photo to enlarge.