NHER 58019 (Monument record) - Early 14th century fragment of effigy in St Mary's churchyard

September, 2012. Observation.
Fragment of an effigy on a piece of Purbeck limestone, about 500mm across, on the ground in shingle just to the west of the south porch of Worstead church. Pointed out by a member of the public. It represents in bas relief and some incised features the helmet or hat, the eyes, part of the nose and an ear of a human head. Smooth surface of stone suggests that it may have been polished. The naturalistic style of the carving suggests an early 14th century date.
S. Heywood (HES), 25 September 2012.

January 2015. Watching Brief.
During the monitoring of drainage works it was observed that the previously noted medieval effigy was incorporated into the cement capping for a late 19th- or early 20th-century brick-built soakaway. It has now been suggested that rather than being Purbeck limestone the effigy may actually be Alwalton marble, a much rarer stone that was mainly in use during the 13th century.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 26 October 2016.