Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
28 days ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
28 days ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
28 days ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
28 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England Tomb Effigy of T.E. Lawrence
AO Edited

Tomb Effigy of T.E. Lawrence

Inside this 11th-century church, a medieval-style tomb of the World War I hero known as "Lawrence of Arabia."

Wareham, England

Added By
Mictlān Tēcutli
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
The tomb effigy   michaelday_bath
The tomb effigy   michaelday_bath
  Granpic
The face of the tomb effigy of Lawrence   Ronald Searle
The church of St Martin at Wareham   Anguskirk
  Joe Dunckley
Interior of the church   Andrew Batram
The faded remnants of Medieval murals can also be seen at the church   phishtitz
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

In the Medieval church of St. Martin's, Wareham, amongst the tombs of crusader knights lies a curious effigy to one of the most enigmatic historical figures and warriors of the 20th century:  Thomas Edward Lawrence—perhaps better known as Lawrence of Arabia.

After his service during World War I in the Arab Revolt against Ottoman rule of the Middle East,  T.E. Lawrence lived a mostly quiet life at his cottage at Cloud Hills, located near the town of Wareham. He lived there in the 1920s and early 1930s, up until his death in a motorcycle crash in 1935.

Lawrence's body is buried in the graveyard of St. Nicholas' Church in Moreton, but another church in the village is home to a stone tomb effigy of Lawrence. The medieval style of this effigy takes inspiration from those created during the 12th century for the tombs of knights (which can be seen in the church)—fitting, considering that Lawrence was both an avid medievalist and a trained archeologist in his life prior to the Arab Revolt.  

In the sculpture, Lawrence is portrayed wearing Arab dress robes and a keffiyeh, which he had been encouraged to take up during the war to both survive the harsh desert climate and to integrate culturally. In death, Lawrence holds his curved ceremonial dagger known as a "Jambiya" in Yemen, which he had been presented by one of his friends Sherif Nasir at the ferocious battle of Aqaba when victory against the Ottomans was achieved. 

The creator of this monument, Eric Kennington, an artist whose work depicted the daily hardships of soldiers and airmen through paintings, illustrations, and sculptures. Kennington was the art director and illustrator for Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom, an autobiographical book chronicling his experiences fighting in the Arab Revolt. A deep friendship developed between the men. When Lawrence died in 1935, Kennington served as a pallbearer at the funeral.

Kennington produced this effigy in the late 1930s as a tribute to the memory of his friend. It was placed within St. Martin's Church, which stands close to the house where the great man once lived. He also created a bronze bust of Lawrence, which is housed in the crypt of St. Paul's Cathedral in London.

Related Tags

World War I History Churches Burial Places Effigies Tombs

Know Before You Go

The church is open to the public (and free to enter) on Wednesdays and on weekends. 

The tomb effigy of Lawrence can be seen in the North aisle of the church.

Community Contributors

Added By

Monsieur Mictlan

Edited By

Frank Dutton

  • Frank Dutton

Published

October 27, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Tomb Effigy of T.E. Lawrence
A351
Sandford
Wareham, England, BH20 7QE
United Kingdom
50.710852, -2.096906
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Bethan's Rock

Poole, England

miles away

The Scout Stone

Dorset, England

miles away

Alfred Russel Wallace's Grave

Broadstone, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of England

England

United Kingdom

Places 2,231
Stories 145

Nearby Places

Bethan's Rock

Poole, England

miles away

The Scout Stone

Dorset, England

miles away

Alfred Russel Wallace's Grave

Broadstone, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of England

England

United Kingdom

Places 2,231
Stories 145

Related Places

  • The mausoleum of General San Martín.

    Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Mausoleum of José de San Martín

    The final resting place of the liberator of Argentina is guarded around the clock by two soldiers.

  • Stranger’s Tomb exterior.

    Boston, Massachusetts

    King's Chapel Crypt

    A more than 260-year-old crypt built on Boston's oldest English burial ground.

  • Bonorva, Italy

    Necropolis of Sant'Andrea Priu

    A Nuragic tomb, a Roman tomb, and a Byzantine Church, all hidden inside a rock.

  • Naples, Italy

    Church of Santa Maria la Nova

    Does this church in Naples hold the true tomb of Vlad the Impaler, the notoriously cruel figure who inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula?

  • Tomb of the Netherlander

    Tainan City, Taiwan

    Tomb of the Netherlander

    Behind a 300-year-old temple hides a small tomb said to house the bones of 17th-century Dutch soldiers.

  • The Martyrs’ Tomb hidden in the Glentrool woodland

    Glentrool, Scotland

    Martyrs' Tomb Glen Trool

    A square stone tomb marks the spot where six men were killed while holding a service in Caldoris Wood.

  • Grave of Anders Celsius.

    Uppsala, Sweden

    Tomb of Anders Celsius

    A small church in Uppsala hides the grave of a renowned 18th-century astronomer.

  • Cartuja de Miraflores.

    Burgos, Spain

    Cartuja de Miraflores

    This Gothic church houses ornate royal tombs and a magnificent gilded altarpiece.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.