Fit for a king
As promised in the previous post, here is the pyramid in Brightling churchyard, beneath which the local squire, MP. philanthropist, and folly-builder John Fuller was buried when he died in 1834. The pyramid is a substantial stone structure, some 25 ft tall and taking up a large chunk of the southern side of the churchyard. It's similar in shape if not size to the resting places of the Old Kingdom Egyptian kings, but unlike the Egyptian pyramids has an entrance on one side, allowing visitors to peer into the gloomy space within. Fuller built the tomb in 1811, so his friends and neighbours had 23 years in which to get used to the fact that he had chosen this unusual form of monument. It was after his death, however, that the local gossip on the subject seems to have taken hold – in particular a story that Fuller was entombed in the pyramid sitting down at a table with a roast chicken and a bottle of claret. Such unconventionality seemed appropriate to Fuller's larger than life character, and the idea that he was buried with his dinner appeared to fit the ancient notion that the soul would need sustenance on its way to the next world. When the pyramid was restored in 1982, however, the rumours were found to be untrue. The squire is buried in the usual recumbent fashion beneath his pyramid.
Fabulous. Fuller's Follies are certainly worth discovering. I did hear that the vicar objected to the idea of Fuller building his pyramid in the churchyard, but a compromise was reached where in return Fuller did something about the nuisance of the local pub opposite, that had equally annoyed the Rev.
ReplyDeletePeter: I should think that the vicar would have had something to say about the pyramid - it really is rather large, isn't it. But, not knowing the local history I don't know who controlled the living. If it was Fuller, he might have had quite a lot of power over what went on.
ReplyDeleteWe have a similar one in Liverpool's Rodney st....good for sharpening razor blades I believe.
ReplyDeletewideGreat couple of posts Philp! Fuller, our Sussex hero. Bought umpteen bassoons for the church in preference to organ music. Called the House of Commons Speaker - "you insignificant little man in the wig". Shame that people have to destroy our dreams by proving the chair/corpse/claret in the tomb legend untrue.
ReplyDeleteThud: It's interesting that the Liverpool pyramid also has a story about the deceased being buried sitting up - but this time with a hand of cards rather than a bottle of claret. There must be something at the bottom of these stories.
ReplyDeleteJon: Oh, excellent egg. I like a bit of woodwind - prefer it to the organ, actually.
ReplyDeleteMy niece is a bassoonist, and at her wedding she and her unsuspecting new husband marched back down the aisle to Widor's Toccata -- arranged for an octet of bassoons and contrabassons. Atruly magic moment.
ReplyDeleteMarcus: What a marvellous image that conjures up in the mind's eye and ear: thank you. I wonder if they raised their instruments later in a guard of honour? (Can one raise a contrabassoon? [She was only an oboist's daughter, but she raised a contrabassoon.] It might be a bit of a handful, I suppose.)
ReplyDeleteThat's it...I want to be buried with a bottle of Claret also!
ReplyDeleteA pyramid in Brighton - amazing! I've travelled around Europe to see great architecture, but there are so many hidden treasures around the UK I've not yet encountered... I think a tour is in order next summer.
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