Historic Christ Church-Recent Preservation Projects: Judith Armistead Carter Tomb

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Judith Armistead Carter Tomb: Removing the Panels and Corners

After removing the top and cutting and chipping away the mortar, the team frees the first part of JAC's tomb: the original corner on the southwest.	This view shows the west elevation after the team has removed both corners and the cast replica panel. The different sections of brick are from piecemeal additions made during the restoration work in the 1960s and 1980s.
Conservator Greg Cowan inspects the space from which he has just removed the northeast corner of JAC's tomb. The nylon strap helped support the panels, some of which were already loose before the tomb top was taken off.	The western elevation's two limestone corner pieces--one turned to show the interior surface which adjoined the brick core, the other with its carved exterior visible--stand next to the replica west panel in the yard at Christ Church.
Because JAC's tomb was shipped in pieces, stonemasons in England carved numbers on the various parts to guide the workmen in the Virginia colony who would be assembling them. Visible on this northeast corner are the numbers 6 and 7 (N.E. is 20th-century). The small, rectangular indentations next to each number were used to hold iron staples which were covered with molten lead to join the corners and panels.	English stonemasons also carved numbers on the platforms which held the Carter tombs to guide the assembly process in Virginia. Visible just above this person's foot is the number 4. Similar markings, etched in Roman numerals, can be found on beams in the roof trusses of Christ Church.
With the panels and corners removed, the interior core of bricks stands alone next to the tombs of Betty Landon Carter and Robert "King" Carter before being demolished.	A simple tarp and nylon strap protect the historic platform to which Judith's tomb will return when Tidewater Preservation completes its work.