Harmer Terracotta Gravestones 1799 to 1839 - History effecting Kent & Sussex

Jonathan Harmer was the son of a Heathfield stonemason, who used his skills as a potter to enhance his fathers gravestones.

Jonathan created a method of attaching terracotta plaques to gravestones or tombs, which has enabled some of them to last for 200 years.

Before

The method he devised was to cut the outline of the terracotta into the stone, then cut about 3/4 inch deeper into the stone creating a cavity. The terracotta plaque of the same or slightly thicker depth was made, then the plaque was glued into the cavity using a mortar.

He took over the family firm in 1799, and from then till 1819 he added these unusual terracotta bas-reliefs to a large number of local grave stones. The plaques were made using the local clay from Heathfield Park.

The colours of the plaques vary from cream to red, and feature such designs as cherubs, vases and baskets of fruit.

Jonathan died in 1839, and the manufacture of the plaques and secret of the mortar used to fix them died with him.

We have many in the East Sussex area - Ashburnham (4), Brightling (1), Burwash (4), Cade Street (6), Chiddingly (1), East Hoathly (2 see note), Glynde (1), Old Heathfield (1), Hailsham (1), Hellingly (3), Herstmonceux (8), Salehurst (5), Wadhurst (1), Waldron (2), Warbleton (2)
and in Kent at Brookland (1) and Lamberhurst (2).

For futher details on the Harmer Family, The Harmer Family Association have a genealogical site at http://www.harmer.org

This is our current photographic Record of all the Harmer Terracottas we have found in the Area

Ashburnham (1)	Ashburnham (2)	Ashburnham (3)	Ashburnham (4)

Brookland (1)	Brightling (1)	Burwash (1)	Burwash (2)

Burwash (3)	Burwash (4)	Cade Street (1)	Cade Street (2)

Cade Street (3)	Cade Street (4)	Cade Street (5)	Cade Street (6)

Chiddingly (1)	East Hoathly (1)	East Hoathly (2)	East Hoathly (3) (see Note below)

Glynde (1)	Old Heathfield (1)	Old Heathfield (2)	Old Heathfield (3)

Herstmonceux (1)	Herstmonceux (2)	Herstmonceux (3)	Herstmonceux (4)

Herstmonceux (5)	Herstmonceux (6)	Herstmonceux (7)	Herstmonceux (8) This is on the church wall but comes from no (4) above

Hailsham (1)	Hellingly (1)	Hellingly (2)	Hellingly (3)

Lamberhurst (1)	Lamberhurst (2)	Salehurst (1)	Salehurst (2)

Salehurst (3)	Salehurst (4)	Salehurst (5)	Wadhurst (1)

Waldron (1)	Waldron (2)	Warbleton (1)	Warbleton (2)

NOTE:- the churchyard of East Hoathly has an additional "Harmer" this is a modern
reproduction by a local potter during the 1980's and is also of very high quality

Harmer Terracottas

(1799AD - 1839AD )