Walking in the Footsteps of “Mad Jack“ Fuller: The Tomb (09 October 2021)

John Fuller (20 February 1757 – 11 April 1834), better known as “Mad Jack“ Fuller (although he himself preferred to be called “Honest John“ Fuller), was Squire of the hamlet of Brightling, in Sussex, and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1780 and 1812. He was a builder of follies, philanthropist, patron of the arts and sciences. He purchased and commissioned many paintings from . Turner. He was sponsor and mentor to Michael Faraday. During his lifetime Jack arranged for the building of his own tomb (in the shape of a Pyramid) in the churchyard at Brightling. It was said that he was buried inside the tomb sitting at a table, complete with bottle of wine at hand and wearing a top hat. Broken glass was strewn across the floor to stop the Devil’s footsteps! Sadly both stories were proven to be untrue when it was necessary to enter the tomb to carry out restoration work many years later. Jack died in 1834.