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P  y  r  a  m  i  d


The area surrounding the little village of Nether Wallop is a beautiful part of the Hampshire countryside. At the time of my visit though it was blighted by the continual drone of helicopters from the nearby Middle Wallop air base, these seeming to hang in the sky like giant dragonflies.


St Andrews Church
Not far though from the relatively traffic free main thoroughfare, down a dead end lane, you will find the parish church of St Andrews.
The majority of the graveyard area in front of the church has now been grassed over, but one tomb presented a bit of a problem thankfully.
This pyramid, and tomb, of a Dr Francis Douce still sits proudly in front of the church 240 years after its erection.
The pyramid itself is eleven foot high with nine foot sides, sitting on an eleven foot square base. The base originally had iron railings around its edge - the holes for these can still be seen- and instructions in his will state :- "that my Pyramid shall be kept in good order and the iron rails painted every second year at the charge of the parish".
The inscription on a small tablet is very badly worn but enough remains to tell you that

Here lye the Remains of FRANCIS DOUCE Doctor of Phyfick.........






The Pyramid Originally Had Red Flames Sprouting From The Top









Provided For The Village
Inside the small church, a board on the wall tells you that the good Doctor left an annuity to provide for the old of the parish and to build a school for the children. This school further benefitted by a later benefactor, a William Warwick who no doubt spurred on by the good doctor`s deed, left a further annuity to provide also for the school. The doctor's will also states that the money will stop if the parish does not keep the pyramid in good repair, shame the railings are missing.


Doctor Francis Douce



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