Samuel Watson was born in Heanor, and baptised in our church on 2nd december 1662.

He was the principal carver at Chatsworth House's chapel as well as in other parts of the house, his work can still be seen in the chapel as it is virtually unchanged since its completion in 1688.

The design and building of his memorial was by his grandson.

The memorial was in a poor state of the repair and when the Victorian church was demolished the memorial was at first not replaced due to the expense.

It is thought possible that the unknown memorial was by Samuel Watson, however like the original inscription that has not yet been proved. One theory is that the memorial was for another church, and that in finishing the memorial it was damaged (noticeable on very close inspection of the top) and so never completed. Heanor then getting the blank memorial.

Thanks to the work of the then incumbent Ian Pallet and the Heanor and district Historical society the memorial was restored in 2003. Unveiled by the Duke of Devonshire and re-dedicated in a service to mark the occasion

We hope to have photos available shortly of the repair work and dedication.

After being removed from the church twice in it's life and both of those churches having suffered badly from damp the Watson memorial was in a very sorry state prior to restoration.

This image shows the memorial as it was having been taken out of storage once the church was rebuilt.

This photo shows how most of the memorial was fixed to the wall, whilst most of the memorial appears to rest of top of the wall, it actually has a mount that is fixed into the wall that then holds and takes the weight of the stone.

This section was for the puti (cherubs).