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"Here lyeth the body of Sr Robert Christopher Knt who finished this life on the 16 day of february 1668 in the 63'd yeare of his age And of Dame Elizabeth his wife who dyed on the 21st day of November 1667, in the 50th yeare of her age.
They had issue Elizabeth their onely childe now wife of the Right Noble Bennett Lord Sherard of Stapleford in the County of Leicester"

Christopher was a well-to-do landowner who lived at the Manor House in West Street, Alford, and died in 1667, leaving bequest which founded the town's almshouses. This great Derbyshire alabaster altar tomb carries a slab of fine black marble on which are placed the pair's recumbent effigies. He is shown in armour holding his sword and wearing the elaborately curled "periwig" then fashionable among the men of wealth and position; she is also garbed in the fashion of the time with her hair covered in a hood. Traces of colour and gilding remain and the whole is surmounted by the Sir Robert's heraldic achievement, whilst the tomb chest itself is enclosed by contemporary piked iron railings. The monument has been attributed to Edward Strong. However, as he was only born in 1652, there is considerable doubt about the veracity of this, although it is possible that the work was not started until several years after Christopher's death.