The information on this website is based initially on a survey that was carried out by Peter Bolton between February and September 1977, together with another survey in 2013 by Mac Parry. In 2013 Michael Dane started resurveying all the graves, photographing and transcribing the inscriptions in full where possible.
Many of these graves are no longer identifiable and/or the inscriptions cannot be read but what notes are available are retained for completeness.
The “Plot Numbers” of the headstones and memorials in the list correspond to those on the plans from the 1977 survey. Headstones were numbered approximately anti-clock-wise starting at the south porch of the church. The War Memorial is listed as plot 313 and Memorials inside the church are identified by the initial number 7 in a sequence 700, 701 etc.
The “Row numbers” have been added more recently attempting to match the plots to rows.
Direction: Headstones East of the declivity marked on the plan face West, In the first extension to the churchyard they face East. Exceptions to this are noted.
Inscriptions in the 1977 survey were abbreviated to show only names, relationships and details giving significant information. Epitaphs are included but Biblical texts and conventional phrases were omitted though there presence is indicated (t).
More recent graves have the inscriptions in full and many of the original graves have also been updated to a full description. Where some dates are not legible, the correct date may have been added by using information from Church Burial Registers. Other notes where information has been found from other sources by Michael Dane are annotated MD.
Conjectural or uncertain words and figures are underlined. Illegible sections are shown are shown thus --- --- --. Where an entire inscription is illegible the number of the headstones is ringed on the plan.
All dates are of death unless otherwise indicated. Many are abbreviated (e.g. 4.7.1936).
In the early 20th century Rev Harvey Bloom surveyed the graves in a number of Warwickshire churchyards and recorded their inscriptions. Rev James Harvey Bloom (28 December 1860 - 1944) was an English clergyman and antiquary; he was Headmaster of Long Marston Grammar School from 1893 to 1895, and then Rector of Whitchurch, Warwickshire from 1896 to 1917. His manuscript survey of Wellesbourne churchyard on deposit in the record office of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust has been used to supply parts of inscriptions which are now wanting or doubtful. Such sections of inscriptions are put in brackets and indicated by the letters BL. His second survey is indicated BL2. Bloom's readings are not always reliable; In particular he showed a tendency to confuse the numbers 6 and 9, 3 and 5, and 1 and 7. Where a transcription has been made from Bloom’s records, this is indicated by HB.
Where graves on Bloom's can no longer be traced they have a plot letter instead of a number.
ABBREVIATIONS
a aged
b born
BL (or BL2) see note above
d daughter
dd died (only used to avoid confusion with another date)
e obscured by earth
fc flower container. (Shown on plans only when no other monument present)
I illustrated
K kerb present on monument
LS ledger stone
Mc metal cross
s son
sg stained glass window
t text (see above)
w wife
wp wall plaque (outside church)