Edward Woodroofe

Edward Woodroofe (or Woodroffe) was Surveyor at Westminster Abbey and was buried in the north cloister on 20th November 1675. His gravestone inscription has now worn away but was recorded in any early guidebook:

Here lieth the body of Mr Edward Woodroofe who deceased November 16th Anno Dom. 1675 in the 54th year of his age and of Margaret his wife who departed this life the 10th of Feb. 1665.

Margaret's date on the stone is in old style dating, now called 1666. Edward was an assistant to Sir Christopher Wren in his work at St Paul's Cathedral and the City of London churches. He had worked at the Abbey as a mason from 1659 and was appointed Surveyor to the College on 22nd October 1662. In his will he mentions only his daughters Lydia (Dallow), Sarah, Margaret and another who seems to have been married to a Mr Hall.