Although my surname is Tarleton and I was raised in Liverpool, England, I am not aware of a link with the Tarleton family of the 18th Century. But, due to these common factors, I have some interest in the history of Banastre Tarleton and last year visited the church [of Saint Mary Magdalene] in Leintwardine, [Herefordshire] with my wife in the hope of seeing his grave. As you have recorded on the website, it is unmarked and we were unable to locate it.

The memorial inside the church is well-hidden inside what may once have been a small private chapel [the Mortimer Chapel], but now appears to have been converted to a storeroom or vestry. I must have been lucky and visited the church while both the 'guard' and ginger cat were on holiday, because nobody was in attendance at the church. As we had this unimpeded access I was able to find the memorial and take a couple of photographs.

If you look at the photo of the memorial you will see a clock on the wall and other miscellaneous garbage stuffed under it. I remember this making me quite angry at the time. I thought it was an inappropriate way to treat a memorial to a country's dead 'hero'. In my opinion, if they needed to use this part of the church they should have moved the memorial, and I still feel quite strongly about this.

I finally had the opportunity to visit the church myself in October 2004, so I'd like to add a bit of additional commentary to Peter's article. -- Marg B.

The guidebook for the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in the parish of Wigmore Abbey, published in the 1970s, offers the information that the memorial is on the west wall of the Mortimer chapel. Some time between then and Peter's visit, the chapel was "re-ordered and enclosed to enable the congregation to use it in winter." The room is presently in use as a vestry, and I certainly agree with Peter's wish that they'd moved the monument prior to closing off the area to another purpose. It's rather lost amidst mundate detritus -- a clock beside it, a desk below, and shelves hung in the corner beside it.

And here's a shot of the nave of St. Mary Magdalene. The entry to the vestry is at the front of the left-handed aisle. The edge of its wooden doors are just barely visible to the left of the front-most pillar of the nave.

Lastly, an interesting details about the monument. Susan, of course, was involved only with Ban's later career. The Tarleton helmet on the monument is not a memorial to the Legion but to the 8th Hussars.