Mystery grave is given a listing
Friday 21st December 2007, 11:42AM GMT.
The mystery grave of an unknown African man buried in a Shropshire churchyard has been given protected status because of its importance to the abolished slave trade.
English Heritage has awarded the headstone at St John the Baptist Church, in Bishop’s Castle, a Grade II listing because of its “historical significance”.
No firm details about the man are known – including his name – and he is listed as “native of Africa”. It is thought the man may have arrived in the town as a servant in a local country house.
But experts believe the elegant decoration and inscription on the headstone indicates he had achieved higher status when he died.
The inscription on the Bishop’s Castle headstone reads: “Here lieth the Body of I.D./A Native of Africa/who died in ths (sic) Town/Sept 9th 1801/God hath made of one Blood, all nations of Men. Act 17 ch. ver. 26″
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