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St Luke's Church, Tavistock Place, Plymouth

St Luke's was closed as a church in 1964 and soon afterwards became "The Annexe" - the home of the support departments and bindery of the Central Library.

In May 1999, when work was being carried out on the flooring, a gravestone was discovered beneath the suspended floor. It was already rumoured that there were 'graves' beneath the floor, but this was the first time one was recorded.

It records the death of Alice Elizabeth Gearing, known as "Allie", at the age of 22 in 1878. It is not yet clear whether the gravestone marks her grave or it was moved here at a later date. Certainly it seems strange to write an inscription such as this and then hide it under the floorboards.

Alice appears not to be listed in the 1871 Census for Plymouth.

The gravestone was photographed on 19 th May 1999 and the inscription transcribed. It is reproduced below.