Epitaph applied to a Yorkshire city (5)
I believe the answer is:
ripon
'a yorkshire city' is the definition.
(city in Yorkshire)
'epitaph applied' is the wordplay.
'epitaph' becomes 'RIP' (rest in peace).
'applied' becomes 'on'.
'rip'+'on'='RIPON'
'to' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for ripon that I've seen before include "Town in N. Yorkshire" , "northern town" , "Yorkshire city with cathedral and racecourse" , "Yorks cathedral" , "historic city" .)