Shrine of St. Bertram, Holy Cross Church, Ilam

Description:The tomb and shrine of St. Bertram dates from the mid-13th century and stands in the South Chapel of Ilam Church. The openings allowed pilgrims to reach into the shrine.

The parish church of the Holy Cross has Saxon, Norman and Early English features and was restored by Gilbert Scott in 1855-1856. St. Bertelin or Bertram is believed to have spent part of his life living as a hermit near to Ilam. He died in about 710 AD and was much venerated in Staffordshire during the Middle Ages. An octagonal memorial chapel was added to the church during the 19th century as a memorial to David Pike Watts, the father in law of Jesse Watts Russell. It contains a spectacular monument by the sculptor, Sir Francis Chantrey.

In the churchyard are two Anglo-Saxon cross shafts. A third stands nearby in the grounds of Ilam Hall.