St. Peter's Churchyard Effigies Co Louth

                                          Above Image: Location in the churchyard

                                  Above Image: Effigy of Edmond Golding's cadaver

                                Above Image: Effigy of Elizabeth Flemyng's cadaver

                                 Above & Below Images: Parts of sides of the tomb

These creepy effigies are one of only ten of their type in Ireland. They are to found in the grounds of St Peter's Church of Ireland in Drogheda town.The remains are from the tomb of Sir Edmond Golding and his wife Elizabeth Flemyng and date back to approx 1520. An old medieval church once stood here but is now non-extant. When the present church o Ireland building was constructed in the 1750's the tomb was disturbed but most of its parts are preserved by being set into the Eastern boundary wall of the churchyard. The effigies formed the top slab and some of the side slabs are adjacent to it on the same wall.
Standing at approx seven feet high the effigies present the couple as rotting cadavers in torn shrouds.
The eerie disembowelment on Elizabeth is said to depict the hollow where once their was a womb. On inspection we found a large spider had spun a web within adding more creepiness to the macabre skeleton. The idea of depicting the couple as cadavers was apparently not meant to shock but to remind people of their mortality and that no matter how affluent they are they will all end up the same way. From the womb to the tomb so to speak. The church stands in the centre of Drogheda and can be accessed on foot during the daytime. There a a few parking spaces outside the church walls but thee are other parking sites nearby so a short walk is all that may be needed. One would not easily find these cadavers normally as you would likely pass the church without knowing of their existence. But they are quite a rarity and are well worth checking out.
To find the tomb remains take the MI and exit at junction 10 onto the N51 for Drogheda. Drive for approx 600m until you reach a roundabout. Go straight through and at the next roundabout take a right hand turn off the roundabout onto the R132 signposted for Drogheda..Drive for approx 1.8KM until you reach a set of traffic lights and a sign pointing left to Beaulieu. Turn left here (R166) and continue for approx 350m and you reach a small crossroads. Go through the crossroads and take the next right hand turn onto King Street. Take the second turn right off King Street onto William Street. The church car park can be found on the right hand side at the junction of the next crossroads. (There is a pub called Clarke & sons opposite). You will find the tomb remains in the Eastern section of the churchyard.  .