The Graveyard Detective

Another great Headstone Catalogue

2012-01-08T13:32:00.000Z

This Maile and Son brochure illustrates a wide selection of Crosses, Memorials and Headstones that the company had on offer. The prices are listed. I must remain to start looking all around memorials as I visit churchyards and cemeteries to see if I can identify any 'Maile' products. Remember to click once and then again to get a close up view of the pages.

Two Types of Cross

2012-01-05T22:38:00.000Z

Another pamphlet from the Maile archive was produced to advertise the company's new premises. The centre spread advertises the Graceful Latin Cross and the 8th Century St Paul Cornish Cross. Note the prices. Click on an image and then again for a really clear view of the content.

Exhumation of US Airmen in Moravia

2012-01-03T10:00:00.001Z

(EXHUMATION OF US AIRMEN IN MORAVIA)

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An Air Force History Index Card can be viewed HERE

Monumental Receipts

2012-01-02T21:43:00.001Z

Another find from the Funerary Treasure Box. At the bottom of the box, I found 50 or so receipts for headstones and memorials from all parts of the country. Some of the Monumental Masons' letterheads are works of art in their own right. Here is one example.

The Art of Maile and Son

2012-01-01T22:47:00.001Z

Searching through my recently re-discovered box of funerary treasures, I found some really fascinating brochures and price lists issued by the Cornish Granite Sculptors - G. Maile & Son Ltd of Euston Road in London. They must have been well-known at the time and it is intriguing to see the cost of memorials. As an example of what I have found, here is there 'Beautiful Churchyard Memorials' Catalogue. It seems no expense was spared as the publication is very nicely printed. To me, the papers provide a useful guide to pricing and the types of memorials and headstones that were on offer. Enjoy!

Little Alfred - the Saddest of Notes

2011-12-29T17:02:00.002Z

When going through the box of funerary treasure, I discovered this small scrap of paper bearing the sad words of a parent who had lost a child. It is very touching.

Click on the image to enlarge it

A New Memorial

2011-12-29T13:15:00.001Z

This cabinet card shows the newly installed Memorial to Hitchen who died in 1913. Look how pristine it is. I can see a tall industrial chimney in the background.

Poignant Souvenir

2011-12-21T18:57:00.001Z

Wherever the Royal Navy based itself abroad, there was always an enterprising photographer who produced souvenir photographs for sale to sailors. Until the 1920s, Cabinet Cards were the preferred format - a thin photograph mounted on card. Quite often they were a real work of art.

This photograph commemorates the death of Stoker Walter Cochrane of HMS Minotaur who died in 1910. Wei Hai Wei was a town in China that was leased as a British Colony from 1898 to 1930.

HMS Minotaur was the Royal Navy's flagship on the China Station

The Cemetery Keeper of Kabul

2011-11-26T08:24:00.000Z

Kabul At Work is a remarkable video project and soon to be a book. Follow this LINK through to the website for more about the cemetery keeper and the project itself.

The forgotten souls of Taylor Cemetery

2011-11-20T12:02:00.000Z

Gone but not forgotten

The forgotten souls of Taylor Cemetery

Executed by the Germans

2011-10-05T22:22:00.000+01:00

Many years ago, I bought two mounted photographs of the repatriation of Captain Charles Fryatt who was executed by the Germans during the First World War. I recently rediscovered them

Wikipedia tells me that Charles Algernon Fryatt (2 December 1872 – 27 July 1916) was a British mariner who attempted to ram a German U-boat in 1915. His ship, the SS Brussels was captured by the Germans in 1916. When it became clear who he was, Fryatt was court-martialled and executed, although he was a civilian. There was international outrage following his execution. In 1919, his body was exhumed and given a funeral with full honours in England.

In 1919, Fryatt's body was exhumed and returned to the United Kingdom for burial. His coffin was landed at Dover, and transported to London. On 8 July, his funeral was held at St Paul's Cathedral. Hundreds of merchant seamen and widows of merchant seamen and fishermen attended. Representing the Government were many members of the Admiralty, the Board of Trade, the Cabinet and the War Office.

The band of the Great Eastern Railway, augmented by drummers from the Royal Marines played the Dead March, Eternal Father, Strong to Save and Abide with Me were sung and a blessing given by the Bishop of London. The route of the coffin to Liverpool Street Station was lined with people. Fryatt was buried at All Saint's Church, Upper Dovercourt. His coffin was carried from the station to the church on a gun carriage. His widow was presented with the insignia of the Belgian Order of Leopold which had been posthumously awarded to Fryatt. He was also awarded the Belgian Maritime WarCross. Click on the two photographs for a closer view.

The coffin containing the body of captain Fryatt on the quarterdeck of the
Destroyer HMS Orpheus during the crossing from Antwerp to Dover

Merchant Marine Captains who acted as pall-bearers at the Memorial Service to Captain Fryatt at St Paul's Cathedral

And thanks to Wikimedia and Creative Commons, here are three connected images:

A studio portrait of Capt Fryatt

The SS Brussels sank off the Zeebrugge Mole

The Fryatt Memorial at Liverpool Street Station in London
Photo: Stzhang

Marble Quarry's link to Memorials

2011-10-03T18:33:00.001+01:00

Veteran Headstones: From Mining To Engraving To The Cemetery

Passed Close Together

2011-10-02T15:53:00.000+01:00

This memorial marks the grave of an elderly couple who died within a few days of each other.

In Loving Memory of Henry Walker Wilson who died Nov 4, 1913 aged 69 and Jane, his beloved wife who died Nov 10, 1913 aged 72. Lovely and Pleasant in their Lives - In Death, Not Divided

Ornate Memorial

2011-09-20T22:21:00.000+01:00

Henry Carey Houston - Woolen Cloth Manufacturer. Buried in Frome Dissenters Cemetery, Somerset

Hurricane Victim

2011-09-05T22:42:00.002+01:00

Today, visiting Belize City cemetery is a dangerous pursuit - you might end up staying there. A look at the city's online news website contains report after report of almost daily killings and woundings. It was a lot quieter in the 1990s when I visited, although my hosts were shocked to hear I had been there alone!

I was very taken with this memorial to Police Superintendent J H Sempill who was killed in the 1931 Belize hurricane. The category 3 hurricane killed an estimated 2,500 people. It was the worst natural disaster in Belize's history. The city was left devastated by the 125 mile per hour winds.

This photograph of a ruined convent in Belize City shows the severity of the damage
(published under Wiki Commons)

Welsh Gravestones

2011-08-31T17:41:00.001+01:00

Just three examples of differing styles of Welsh headstones. This trio was captured in St David's cemetery, Pembrokeshire. Some of the stones next to some trees are absolutely covered in Lichen.

Preston Monument

2011-08-30T22:38:00.000+01:00

This striking monument to Ethel Preston can be found in the Lawnswood Cemetery in Leeds. The grade II listed structure dates from 1911. Made from Italian marble, it has a life-size statue standing under a porch which is said to be a replica of the entrance to The Grange - the home she shared with her husband Walter. At the back is a pair of black marble doors stand ajar.

By way of comparison, this modern day view (copyright Phill. D) is published under Creative Commons

Grave Robbing in Spain

2011-08-30T21:50:00.002+01:00

Some years ago, I finished an assignment in Gibraltar and took a short break with my partner in Spain. Our aim was to drive north along the west coast to try and find the grave of 'The Man Who Never Was' - a body that played a part in one of the biggest deceptions of the Second World War.

Along the way, I noticed a walled cemetery and went to investigate. The cemetery was locked but a sign above the gate recorded that it was established in 1930. Walking around the perimeter, I came across a structure that had once contained the remains of a handful of people who, for one reason or another, could not be buried inside the cemetery. The covers had been broken and the coffins removed.

Imagine my surprise when I realised one had very recently been opened. The coffin lay exposed and its top had been broken apart. The bones remained, the remains of a shroud was visible and the skull lay by the feet. I quickly realised that whoever was responsible did so with the intention of robbing the remains of any jewellery worn by the deceased.

I then heard an eerie noise. It became louder and more high pitched and I look round to see my partner in some hysterics. She had been looking at something on the ground, a few feet away, and had realised, with immense discomfort, that it was a long plait of hair that must have belonged to the deceased. Remarkably, the hair looked perfect and undamaged. Perhaps it had been moved by the grave robber(s) so that an ornament could be removed from it?

Yesterday, I found a quantity of black and white negatives and contact sheets which included these shots of the scene. I did photograph, in colour, the scene in much more detail, but I have yet to find them. When I do, I will post them here.

The cemetery gates were locked shut to prevent access to the graves

The bottom right entrance gave access to the coffin

The coffin lies within. The wooden end is visible with
the shattered lid running back into the darkness

Twins who died Young

2011-08-20T23:06:00.000+01:00

In loving memory of our children

Gertrude Maud May - 25 June 1904 - 19 years

and

Mabel Annie Gray - 2 April 1911 - 26 years.

I thought this memorial in Anne's Hill cemetery in Gosport was rather unusual. A heart mounted on an anchor, above a base of rocks. Note the length of rope. Its significance can be seen on the reverse of the memorial, where it is used to tie the items together. A very intricate piece of stonework!

Roadside Memorials in Belize

2011-08-16T17:15:00.002+01:00

Roadside memorials are a big thing in the central America country of Belize (formerly British Honduras). As I drove round the country, they seemed to be everywhere. Some were quite ornate. Here are just two examples. Quite bizarrely, the victims shoes or sandals were often left neatly on the verge.

The shattered windscreen is draped over the victims shoes

Large amounts of wreckage are left on the roadside

The Immaculate Heart of Mary

2011-08-15T10:40:00.002+01:00

Mary can be seen, here, displaying it on this gravestone in St John the Evangalist church yard in Kirkham, Lancashire. There are several symbolic variations of the heart but, in this example, a band of roses surrounds, flames are coming out of the top and rays are emitted to its lower right. Note the sword that has pierced the centre of the heart. It is a reminder of the sorrows felt by Mary through Jesus' life. Evidently, at the presentation of Christ in the Temple, Simeon informed her that a sword will pierce her heart.

That said, the events commemorated by this gravestone certainly must have broken the hearts of the parents, John and Ester Moxham of Preston, Lancashire. Of their children, Ann died in 1871 age 3, Margaret in 1874 age 5 and Mary in 1889 age 4 years and 7 months.

Boy scouts working in Camp Floyd cemetery

2011-08-14T22:23:00.001+01:00

Providence cemetery overgrown

2011-08-14T22:17:00.002+01:00

2011-08-09T23:43:00.002+01:00

Vandalism Discovered at Pontiac's Oak Hill Cemetery: MyFoxDETROIT.com

2011-08-09T23:39:00.001+01:00

This Way In!

2011-07-24T09:47:00.002+01:00

It was a damp day in Blackburn, Lancashire. Things brightened up when I saw this slab of stone. The word 'entrance' and the initials 'TRP' were engrave upon it. I wonder if it is the entrance to a vault that serves the large memorial to which it is attached? The light conditions were very poor when I photographed it and the damp was reflective when I took an image of the inscription. I must return for another look.

Headless Angels

2011-07-23T09:53:00.002+01:00

Looking through my collection of cemetery images, I was struck by the growing number of 'beheaded' cemetery angels I come across. I wonder why people feel the need to do such awful things?

And to scale

A Very Grand Memorial

2011-07-23T01:14:00.001+01:00

This impressive memorial in the St John the Evangelist Roman Catholic church in Kirkham, Lancashire, marks the grave of Joseph Gillow and his wife. Gillow was a Justice of the Peace and a Catholic Politician.

Hidden Entrance!

2011-07-21T23:18:00.001+01:00

This impressive memorial is in my local graveyard. It commemorates many members of the Smith family. I think there must be a very large vault underneath as someone has cleared away the grass to reveal part of the entrance stone (photo 3, below). You can just read Entrance to and the word Smith. I am tempted to peel back the turf to reveal all the words, but wonder whether I should?

Rudolf Hess to be Dug up!

2011-07-21T17:59:00.001+01:00

The body of Rudolph Hess is being dug up, burned and then dumped in the sea. More politely than some of the headlines: The body of Rudolph Hess has been exhumed, will be cremated and then his ashes will be scattered at sea. This will stop neo-Nazis using his Bavarian grave site as a place for pilgrimage. Hess was found hanged in Spandau prison in West Berlin in 1987.

I once had an assignment in West Berlin and met a chap who was responsible for the burial arrangements for Rudolf Hess. He realised one day that there was no coffin available, should Hess die in Spandau Prison. He went out and bought one. Within a few days, Hess died! A couple of years later, I went on a battlefield pilgrimage and the chap sitting behind me on the coach was Hess's guard for many years, when it was the Britain's turn to guard him. What luck to find two people with such interesting stories to tell.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/21/rudolf-hess-body-removed-nazi

Big Stink in Clinton County Cemetery!

2011-07-21T17:20:00.000+01:00

Not for sensitive souls.

If you read the history books that talked about the way burials were handled years ago and how, for example, terrible smells emanated from the graveyards, you might have sympathy for these townsfolk. On the bright side, the smell they are dealing with is from one body. Imagine how it was long ago, when there were hundreds of decaying bodies in graveyards.

Here is the story to read. Click HERE.

Navy Probe Graveyard with Radar

2011-07-20T06:56:00.002+01:00

Only Half the Story!

2011-07-19T20:33:00.003+01:00

This headstone caught my eye. It is in Preston Cemetery in Lancashire. Something is missing from the top - maybe a cross - as the fixing peg is visible. The top half of the stonework bearing the main inscription has fallen away and . . . oh, I wish I knew what on the damaged ceramic badge near the top?

My Grave Addiction: All Souls Rising

2011-07-18T22:51:00.000+01:00

Is this the answer to the mystery of the stars on the heads of angel statues in cemeteries. A new blog and well worth a visit and to follow!

My Grave Addiction: All Souls Rising: "'Thro' the noises of the night, She floated down to Camelot: And as the boat-head wound along The willowy hills and fields among, The..."

Latest Cemetery News

2011-07-18T20:43:00.003+01:00

Find the latest cemetery news on Graveyard Detective's Facebook page. Some of it is quite fascinating! Click HERE to visit.

Bayside Cemetery Damage

2011-07-16T23:27:00.000+01:00

Let me simply say: I am shocked! Read the article HERE.

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The Morrison Plot

2011-07-16T09:40:00.001+01:00

Looking at my collection of photographs taken in the Confederate Cemetery in Fredericksburgh, I noticed a large collection of markers all commemorating members of the Morrison family. How many can you see? The large marker, front right and also posted in close-up, is to Robert Reed Morrison who died of apoplexy in 1894. His obituary describes him as a prominent and successful farmer.

Click HERE to view a photograph and obituary on Find A Grave.

Now Only Partly Remembered

2011-07-13T17:29:00.000+01:00

I am always sad when I see headstones where most of the lettering has eroded away. Especially in this case. I wonder who she was and who else was, at one time, commemorated on the stone. It looks like the surname was Snook. Can any one complete the saying: "Her Children Rise Up And . . ."

Abbey Cemetery, Bath

How to Make your own Headstone

2011-07-09T23:04:00.002+01:00

How to make your own headstone. Click HERE for details.

Staggering Statistics!

2011-07-09T00:03:00.003+01:00

I read in the Orlando Business Journal, yesterday, that a 2002 Cornell University study reported that:

Each year, conventional burials entomb 827,000 gallons of embalming fluid, 1.6 million tons of concrete, 90,000 tons of steel and 2,700 tons of copper six feet under.

Now that is a staggering! I wonder if anyone has tried to work out how many flowers are laid at the graveside every year?

Perrymead RC Cemetery, Bath

Military Funeral

2011-07-06T19:42:00.001+01:00

Three images of a British Army funeral procession, probably in India in the 1930s. In the second photograph, a seriously large number of wreaths are being carried.

A Civil War Hero with four Legs!

2011-07-05T22:34:00.003+01:00

Now this is a fascinating story:
Click HERE!

AP Exclusive: US Ignores Vet Graves in Philippines - ABC News

2011-07-03T10:30:00.000+01:00

AP Exclusive: US Ignores Vet Graves in Philippines - ABC News

I was pretty amazed to read this story. While the destruction of cemeteries by Hurricane Katrina was well-documented, it hadn't occurred to me that volcanic eruptions have also caused lasting damage. A very sad story, but nice to know some public spirited people are taking an interest!

Rescued from a Slave Ship

2011-07-02T09:58:00.003+01:00

A gravestone in Locksbrook Cemetery in Bath, England raises a number of questions. It bears the following inscription:

In Memory of MUMU, a deaf and dumb African girl. She was rescued in child-hood from a slave vessel and taken to the Church Missionary School at Charlotte, Sierra Leone, from where she was sent to England for education and remained 11 years in the Bath Institute for the Blind and Deaf and Dumb.

She was baptised Dec 28 1857 and received the christian names of Annie Jan Elwin. After a short illness, she fell asleep in Jesus May 16 1866 aged 25 years.

Also in memory of George Spear, a blind boy, a native of Cape Palmas, West Africa. He was educated in the above institution and died in peace Sep 26 1866 aged 11 years.

He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a City of Habitation

Also in memory of Ann Etoone, a deaf and dumb pupil in the same institution. She died Dec 10 1866

Also in memory of Elizabeth Wise who died 1872.

Locksbrook was opened in 1864 and closed for general use in 1937 after over 30,000 burials there. Today, it is designated as a Nature Conservation Site by the local council which owns it.

Thinking about the young woman's story, I keep wondering whether she was removed from other family members on the slave ship, where was it bound, how much her life was improved by being sent to England and kept in an institution? And George Spear, too. What of his life? How did he get to Bath? So many questions!

Angel with a Harp

2011-06-30T22:04:00.001+01:00

How often do you see an Angel playing a celestial harp? Not often, I am guessing. This headstone is in the Arnos Vale cemetery in Bristol, England.

Anchor Symbolism

2011-06-28T20:58:00.000+01:00

The grave of Thomas Henry Leak in Brookwood Cemetery. A really fine example of an anchor with its chain draped over the cross. The anchor represents hope or eternal life.

God Knows Best!

2011-06-26T12:51:00.000+01:00

Thinking of some of the awful events taking place around the world in which we live, there might be those who do not agree with the motto on this headstone. That said, I thought this headstone for Noah Samuel Cox was very ornate for a 1920s grave. What do others think? The grave is in the impressive Arnos Vale Cemetery in Bristol.

The Palermo Catacombs

2011-06-24T17:20:00.009+01:00

The Capuchins Catacombs in Palermo, Sicily are attracting the attentions of the Taphophile community at present. I remembered that I had published some vintage postcards of the catacombs on another blog more than two years ago. I thought I should share them here with you.

The catacombs contain lines of thousands of well preserved corpses. Dating back to 1599 when priests mummified a monk for all to see and others followed. Some of the corpses have long ago lost their flesh and are skeletons. Others have mummified flesh, hair and even eyes. All are dressed in clothes from the period in which they lived. The practice stopped in the 1920s.

A fascinating website on the subject is maintained by retires US Navy Chief Petty Officer Kimberly King. Click HERE to visit her website. It is well work a visit. People may wish to visit another site HERE which has some really stunning photographs!

Brookwood American Cemetery

2011-06-23T22:16:00.001+01:00

According to the American Battle Monuments Commission, the 4.5 acre Brookwood American Cemetery and Memorial in England lies to the west of the large civilian cemetery built by the London Necropolis Co. and contains the graves of 468 US war dead of the First World War. Close by are military cemeteries and monuments of the British Commonwealth and other allied nations. Automobiles may drive through the Commonwealth or civilian cemeteries to the American cemetery. It is the only American Military of the Great War in Britain.

The two postcards below show the view to the visitor reception centre with its central archway and the view from the archway out to the war graves. They both mention 437 dead so other casualties must have been buried later in the postwar period. I have visited the cemetery twice and it is very impressive.

He played at the Funeral of Stonewall Jackson

2011-06-21T22:50:00.001+01:00

Here is the headstone of Andrew B Bowering 1842-1923 in Fredericksburg Cemetery. What a story it has to tell. It was erected by the Fredericksburg Band in his memory. It records that Bowering was:

A loyal Confederate Soldier - Leader of 30th VA Regiment Band 1861-65 - Composed the Funeral Dirge and led the Band at the funeral of Stonewall Jackson - Played last Military Recall of Civil War at Appomattox - Commissioner of the Revenue 1874 to 1923.

New Home for News Items

2011-06-20T17:19:00.002+01:00

There is a lot of information out there for those who are interested in Cemeteries and Graveyards. Rather than 'clutter' this area, I thought I would link to interesting news items on my Facebook fan page for The Graveyard Detective. Click HERE to visit or scroll down to Follow us on Facebook - just above My Blog List.

Graveyards & Gravestones

2011-06-20T17:13:00.000+01:00

This could be a useful source - photographs of 2,300 gravestones:

Graveyards & Gravestones

40 Hauntingly Beautiful Photographs of Graves Taken In Graveyards and Cemeteries

2011-06-20T17:10:00.000+01:00

I thought these photographs might be of interest to people. Enjoy!

40 Hauntingly Beautiful Photographs of Graves Taken In Graveyards and Cemeteries

Waiting for the Embalming Process to Begin

2011-06-17T18:23:00.005+01:00

It was a chance find. A piece of cloth and a small envelope of snapshots. Together, they revealed a little known episode of military history. This is what I know. The piece of white material is an arm band. It bears the letters C A M C and was worn by US servicemen and women working at the Cambridge American Military Cemetery.

The cemetery was first established in December 1943 on 30.5 acres of land donated by the University of Cambridge. It was selected as a permanent American Military Cemetery, not only because of its scenic grandeur, but also because a large proportion of American casualties occurred in this general area of East Anglia. The cemetery was not dedicated until July 1956.

It contains 3,809 headstones, with the remains of 3,812 servicemen, including airmen who died over Europe and sailors from North Atlantic convoys. What isn't well documented is that, with the Graves Registration unit based there, a team of uniformed embalmers worked tirelessly to 'prepare' the bodies for burial. This surprised me as I always imagined that the bodies - after all the accounting paperwork was processed and the personal effects collected - were simply placed into a coffin and buried with due military honours. How do I know this?

Well, the arm band came with a newspaper cutting and a number of photographs of the preparation room in the embalming huts. The cutting records that Technical Sgt Jimmy was based at the Cemetery and was a practising embalmer. Indeed, while there he was admitted to the British Institute of Embalmers.

Jimmy was born on 23 Feb 1914. He enlisted in Baltimore in April 1941 and his occupation was recorded as embalmer and undertaker. He died in Cumberland, MD aged 96 on 21 April 2010.

When you look at the photographs which are marked on the reverse with the words 'Prep. Room', you will notice all the paraphenalia hanging around including piping and hoses used in the process of embalming. If the white sheet draped over the embalming tables is raised, then a body is under the sheet awaiting preparation. When I look at them, it gives me the shivers.

Photograph: American Battle Monuments Commission
(courtesy of Creative Commons)

Download a copy of the 1945 Graves Registration Manual HERE. It is a fascinating document.

View or download the illustrated Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial Guide HERE

View a video of the Cemetery HERE

Floral Tributes on double graves of the First World War

2011-06-15T19:25:00.003+01:00

This photograph shows a number of graves in Bois Guillaume Communal Cemetery which is located in the north east of Rouen. The two plots in the cemetery were reserved for Commonwealth burials from September 1914 to March 1917. For the most part, the burials took place from No. 8 General Hospital which was quartered in a large private house and grounds. The second plot contains the graves of servicemen killed in a railway accident on February 14, 1917. What is unusual is that all the burials pictured are double grave plots. Each grave has two wooden crosses at its head.

I was able to identify the location thanks to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Debt of Honour website - a searchable database for First and Second World War casualties. A grave on the right is to Private Alfred Jacob Cripps of the Army Veterinary Corps. Attached to the 7th Veterinary Hospital, he died on February 2, 1915. Click on the image, and then again, for a close-up view.

War Damage

2011-06-14T19:45:00.001+01:00

I was thinking recently of the terrible damage done to cemeteries by the effects of Hurricane Katrina. Then I came across this souvenir postcard showing the damage caused by an artillery bombardment during the First World War. This scene of devastation was captured in the Eastern Cemetery of Reims in France.

An early view of the National Cemetery, Arlington.

2011-06-13T22:19:00.002+01:00

An early postcard of Arlington National Cemetery. On the reverse is the description:
'The National Cemetery Arlington - where many of the Union and Confederate soldiers and sailors were buried. This is also the last resting place of a great number of titled officers who fought in the Army and Navy on both sides.' The cemetery looks, oh so different, today!

The Blue Angel

2011-06-10T21:25:00.000+01:00

I thought I would share some more views of the Blue Angel. I think she is beautiful. What a wonderful memorial!

Fragile State

2011-06-09T23:07:00.001+01:00

Jesus Called A Little Child Unto Him, records the saying above the inscriptions on this memorial in Clitheroe Cemetery in Lancashire. It records the passing of the two young children of Albert and Susie Sykes. Cecil Robert who died in his fifth year in 1875 and Bertie who died in his second year in 1864.
Albert, who was a Yarn Agent, had three more sons and a daughter who died at 28 years. Albert died in 1906, daughter Gladys in 1908 and Susie in 1910.

It is a beautiful headstone but if you look closely, a section of the inscription is in a fragile state. Water must have seeped in and there is a distinct line fold each side. It would take just a touch by a passing visitor and it would fall away and smash on the ground. Long may it remain intact.

Cemetery Snapshots 2

2011-06-08T19:43:00.002+01:00

Another selection of snapshots.

Henry Voss, farmer, of Harrison, Calumet County, Winsconsin and his wife Sarah Anne. Both of German parentage. On the reverse is written: 'Great Grandma and Grandma (sic?) Voss. Parents of Andy Voss

Joseph Constantino Jr (1925 to 1955) with Mother and Grandmother.

Joseph Constantino Jr

Elizabeth C Short, wife of John Short

Joseph Halper of Cook County, Illinois died one day short of his first birthday

Cemetery Snapshots

2011-06-07T22:43:00.003+01:00

I finally got round to having a look in a couple of envelopes of assorted cemetery snapshots from America that I received in the post earlier this year. Oh that people would write some details on the reverse!

A souvenir photograph from the Arrow Photo Service - Box 104, Neverfade Photos, Minneapolis

Elderly grandparents at the grave of son or daughter, perhaps. Note the child. Is that a sailor suit of sorts

At the graveside. Relatives are pictured with the floral tributes

Only the words 'Daddy Monument' are written on the reverse of this photogaph. It is the grave of French Canadian Architect, Jule Joanisse (61) who died in 1932 and his mother Anastessie (91) who died in 1931. The cemetery is in Cochrane, Ontario

Bange? Not the most common of names. On the back is written: Lisle and Revilla, Barre, Vermont; C F Redding, Hanover, Penna: Mount Olivet Cemtery, Hanover, Penna

Leaning just a Little More!

2011-06-03T18:43:00.001+01:00

Frome Christ Church churchyard also has an area of tottering memorials. It was quite challenging underfoot when I walked through to photograph the leaning grave architecture. It was only when I got to the other side that I noticed some warning notices!

Leaning just a Little!

2011-06-03T17:52:00.000+01:00

In one part of Bath's Locksbrook Cemetery, it is really confusing to find a large open area where the graves are either collapsing or the headstones are leaning at crazy angle. I have no idea why!

Safe in the arms of Jesus

2011-06-01T22:32:00.002+01:00

Sweet Memories of Jessica Maria Barosso, fell asleep Oct 6 1947 aged 7 months.

Heartfelt Inscription

2011-05-31T22:50:00.001+01:00

John Portingale was certainly loved by his fellow villagers. Hence the inscription:

He Died As He Lived

Everybody's Friend

Comedian Spike Milligan has the words, I Told You I Was Sick, on his, albeit written in Gaelic. What would you like to see on your own headstone?

Baffling memorial

2011-05-30T12:15:00.000+01:00

Now, this has baffled me as I have never seen anything like it before. I wonder what the significance is of having a recumbent cross alongside a wall of rocks. Any ideas, anyone?

Variation on a Theme

2011-05-27T08:54:00.000+01:00

On the south coast of England, one evening this week, I saw a sign to a cemetery and turned off my route to visit it. I was glad I did. It turned out to be an old cemetery with a host of interesting gravestones bearing some fine examples of grave art. I was captivated by this Ivy-clad headstone which marked the last resting place of Charlotte Ellen, wife of James Jilks, who died, aged 49, in 190?

I always record examples of clasped hands symbolism. I was fascinated to see this example supported on each side by a small angel. Has anyone seen anything similar?

A Collection of Nutters!

2011-05-24T22:23:00.003+01:00

This memorial records the names of a number of Nutters. The name has two possible origins - Anglo-Saxon: a variant of 'Nothard', an occupational name for a keeper of oxen or Olde English 'notere', an occupational name for scribe or clerk.

No Room - Nowhere left to lie in Peace

2011-05-17T07:47:00.000+01:00

Space running out in British cemeteries - click HERE to read!

Another Glimpse at an Ascension Island Cemetery

2011-05-12T17:53:00.000+01:00

A second selection of photographs of graves in the Georgetown (Dead Men's) Cemetery on Ascension Island. Many of the early gravestones had plaques attached that commemorated the deceased. A lot of them have detached themselves.

Very faded and it looks like this stone is turning to sand.

A remarkably well-preserved piece of slate, despite it being broken

Here, because of the ravages of time, another name plaque has fallen away

Poor Kate. The two year old accidentally drowned in the Turtle Pond in 1855

Private Witbooi Johannes who died at sea and was buried here. The regiment was raised from the Cape Coloured community of the Union of South African during the First World War.

The Baskian Swastika Lauburu. For more on the symbols history, click HERE

Simple crosses are popular, too but why these are leaned against a well, I do not know

Decaying Beauty of an Ascension Island Cemetery

2011-05-11T18:09:00.002+01:00

I once had a long flight down to Ascension Island in the south Atlantic. I was there on assignment and the week-long event I was reporting, finished early. I was, therefore, marooned there until my flight home. The aircraft came from the Falkland Islands and the weather prevented it taking off for some days.
I have to admit I was rather pleased as it gave me a chance to visit some of the very old cemeteries on Ascension. Loaded down with Kodachrome film, I was able to shoot away to my heart's content.

My first visit was to the Georgetown (Dead Men's) Cemetery. Ascension being a volcanic island meant that the background looks like a lava field. It reminded me of a long abandoned archeological site awaiting discovery. Many of the early graves had eroded very badly - the site is close to the beach and years and years of sand being blown by the wind across the cemetery has left its mark. Note the lumps of volcanic rock used to edge the graves. Here are a few examples of what I saw through my viewfinder.

Novel Way of Remembering One's Family

2011-05-10T18:40:00.001+01:00

When I visited the Fredericksburg Confederate Cemetery, I discovered there are actually two separate cemeteries enclosed within one wall. The City Cemetery was established in 1844. The original iron and stone entrance gate is no longer used and entrance is through the adjoining Confederate Cemetery. Oh that my visit was at a time when digital cameras were in existence. Worrying about the amount of 35mm film I had with me, I only shot a few frames. There are so many spectacular memorials, I wish I had shot more . . .

I noticed some small headstones that were crumbling and sinking into the ground - Howison Beale was one of the surnames. Remarkably, I came across a large memorial which was intended to preserve details of the family graves. A line across the bottom of the memorial records: "This stone is erected by their son, Frank D Beale to preserve the inscriptions of the old gravestones now mouldering nearby 1959."

Iron Grave Markers in Virginia

2011-05-08T15:08:00.001+01:00

The Fredericksburg Confederate Cemetery is also the City cemetery and while there I noticed three iron grave markers. I photographed the large pair from front and rear. I guess the large circular recess is to hold a pot of blooms? The frame of one has long since rusted away and the stone plaque now rests against the base. The other is recumbent and forms an ornate border to what remains of the stone. Sadly, I cannot now remember the size of the latter, although it may have been the grave of a small child. If anyone has been to Fredericksburg and remembers it, please let me know.

Confederate Cemetery

2011-05-07T23:30:00.001+01:00

Slowly starting to pick my way through my massive photographic archive, I came across these photographs of the Fredericksburg Confederate Cemetery that I took in the 1990s. According to the National Park Service, the cemetery is situated at the corner of William Street and Washington Avenue.

Six Confederate generals and more than 3,300 Southern soldiers lie buried there, 2,184 of them are unknown. For more information, click HERE. Click once on an image, and then again for a close-up view.

Tombs on Tombs

2011-05-07T13:23:00.003+01:00

I noticed two of the Clitheroe cemetery headstones each had a tomb or sarcophagus at their head. The first has dove which appears to be offering an olive twig to the occupant - the tomb is open. The second is either a palm leaf or willow branch draped over the tomb. Maybe a curtain? A positive i.d. would be welcomed.

Effects of Erosion

2011-05-07T09:41:00.000+01:00

I have been wondering recently about why the facades of certain headstones crumble away to nothing. I thought I would look at the effects in more detail. Here is the first stone. While the weeping willow and tomb at the top of the headstone are fine, the top third of the inscribed lettering has fallen away. No trace of it exists so it must have been disposed of. I hope gravestone recorders collected the information before it was lost. The lower part is close to falling away.

Cemetery of Dogs

2011-05-02T18:39:00.005+01:00

Over the years, I have acquired a small number of postcards of Le Cimetiere des Chiens - the Paris Dog Cemetery. Recently, I acquired a significant archive of material on this fascinating cemetery. I have decided to publish them on a separate blog. Click HERE to visit it. I hope you enjoy seeing them.

Pensive look on mourning Figure

2011-05-01T12:39:00.000+01:00

What a pensive expression on the face of this figure that forms part of the memorial to Edith Annie, beloved wife of Cawin Joseph Harling Herdman who died in 1912 aged 46. Her 14-year-old son, died in 1915, while her husband Cawin (54) died in 1918. The grave is in Clitheroe Cemetery in Lancashire.

In 1881, Cawin was a clerk to his uncle Joseph Harling Herdman who was a wine and spirit merchant. Cawin's brother, Henry, is listed as having the slightly mysterious occupation of 'Spirit Traveller'!

In 1901, Cawin was living in Toxteth Park, Liverpool and is described as a retired Wine-Merchant (aged 37). Living with him was his wife Edith and three sons - Gavin 8, Henry 2 and one-month-old Joseph.

The London Necropolis

2011-04-30T13:26:00.001+01:00

The London Necropolis, a photo by The Room In The Roof on Flickr.

This photograph of an amazing sign was taken by The Room In The Roof and is in its photocollection on Flickr

A Stonemason's Memorial

2011-04-24T18:08:00.000+01:00

There is something very touching about this memorial in Clitheroe Cemetery. A sad figure stands beside a broken column. She holds a wreath in her right hand, while her left reaches out to touch the column. Curiously, you would expect her to be looking in the direction of the column, but maybe she is looking down to earth where the deceased is buried. Again, I am confused by the chronology of the naming. It appears to be back to front. From the top, it reads:

In loving memory of Thomas Mitchell of West View, Clitheroe
Born 24 December 1851 Died 3 October 1914
And Ellen his beloved wife Born 5 July 1853 Died 19 June 1906
Also William their beloved son
Born 14 July 1886 Died 16 Nov 1891
Also John their beloved son Born 28 Oct 1877 Died 5 October 1931

Thomas Mitchell, I discover, is listed as stone mason in 1881, employing eight men and a boy. In 1891, he is listed as a retired (39 years old). In 1901, his son John is a stone mason on his own account, while sister Bessie is a 16-year-old pupil Teacher.

Angelic Support

2011-04-21T17:43:00.000+01:00

Some months ago, I published a photograph of two angels supporting a figure in Aldershot Cemetery. I didn't expect to find another when I made my first visit to the exquisite Victorian cemetery in Clitheroe, Lancashire last weekend. The figures are less ornate but still very striking. The memorial is to Frances Westhead who died on 8 September 1907 aged 35. It also marks the last resting place of her husband, William, who died 8 January 1959 aged 86. A separate plaque on the grave records that their daughter, Frances May, died on 12 September 1984 at the age of 86. Because William who died second is named first on the memorial, I believe the lettering may have been replaced at a later date.

Vanished!

2011-04-20T23:34:00.000+01:00

Last Sunday I visited a cemetery a few miles from my home. When I walked through the gate, I was amazed by the quality and the beauty of the headstones and memorials stretched out before me. This weekend, I will share with you views of a number of striking mourning figures I found there. My last post 'What Lies Beneath' showed the rough handiwork inside the interior of a stone memorial. By way of connection, one of the first headstones I saw was topped by rose and other foliage. When I looked down, I was rather shocked to find that there was something missing. Normally, a mason carves the words into the headstone but, here, the names were inscribed on a panel that was then fixed to the front of the stone. Someone has removed the panel in its entirety, so it is now an unknown grave. I haven't seen anything similar before. If you look closely, you can see two of the fixing pins at the top edge of the surround.

What Lies Inside?

2011-04-17T09:49:00.000+01:00

We have all admired Victorian memorials in graveyards but do you, like me, imaginine that they are of solid construction? When I visited the Frome Dissenters graveyard in Somerset, I was surprised to see some side panels of the base of an obelisk had crumbled away to reveal the interior. I was disappointed to see the interior was filled with stones and felt it a revelation too far!

Hand in Hand!

2011-04-15T23:25:00.001+01:00

Broken from its base, this headstone lies flat on the grass of Blackburn Cemetery in Lancashire. At first sight, it shows the familiar Victorian symbol of two hands clasped together. Above is the inscription - We Shall Meet On That Beautiful Shore. What makes this both poignant and unusual is that, instead of the usual male and female hands, this depicts a Mother's hand clasping that of its child. Very sad! It is the first of its type that I have seen, but there must be others. The grave marks the last resting place of Elizabeth Jane, the beloved daughter of Charles and Nancy Eastwood, whose short life spanned the period 1873-1876. Next came Ernest Charles who was born in 1880 and dies 12 days short of his tenth birthday in 1890. In 1901, their mother Nancy died aged 50, while father Charles lived on until 1910 aged 63 years.

I have since traced some details of the family who lived in Bright Street, Blackburn - Charles Eastwood was an Engineer and a Driver in a Cotton Mill. Wife Nancy is a Housekeeper, while there is a surviving son - Thomas Edwin who in 1891 was a 13-year-old Cotton Weaver. By 1901, he was Lorry Driver for a Corn Mill.

Star Angel

2011-04-13T23:03:00.001+01:00

Another memorial at Chorley cemetery. It marks the grave of John, husband of Levina Varley who died April 21, 1903. This angel has a star on her head and a hole in her neck.

Murderer Hanged in 1821 Buried Today!

2011-04-13T21:27:00.001+01:00

Read about it HERE

Fading Grief is a Memorial to Sisterly Love

2011-04-09T08:44:00.002+01:00

I saw this grieving figure in Chorley Cemetery. Although an arm is missing and the facial features are crumbling, its face is a striking picture of grief. I think she is clasping a representation of an anchor to her bosom although if you think differently, please let me know.

The memorial reads: A tribute of love in memory of Mary Anne Welch who died January 14th 1884 Aged 67 - Erected by her sister Alice.

There is a poignant message recorded at the base: Love is too Precious to be Lost. Alice must have loved her sister very much . . .

Two Angels.

2011-04-06T21:03:00.000+01:00

Here is another grave in Hurst Green RC cemetery which is not far from the Roman Catholic public school, Stoneyhurst College. There are so many interesting and unusual memorials, you could easily pass this gravestone without noticing its twin guardians. Beautifully made! Note the star in the angels' hair.

Standing Sentinel

2011-04-04T23:07:00.001+01:00

Hurst Green cemetery in Lancashire is a fascinating burial ground. I had a strange experience there during my first visit (click HERE to read my post). A few weeks later, I had a, photographically, more successful visit. This was a image from then. When I looked at it this evening, I was very taken with it. If you squint your eyes a little, it looks like two strangely shaped coffins with three alien-like figures standing sentinel behind. Can you see what I mean? Click once or twice on the image for a closer view.

Restoration?

2011-04-03T23:31:00.000+01:00

When you have a black granite memorial and the gold inside the inscribed lettering has faded, it is time for restoration. I am not entirely convinced you should just paint over the letters en masse. Once the paint has dried, how on earth do you remove the excess? Any ideas?

Cemetery Destruction

2011-03-26T10:39:00.004Z

Earlier this year, I visited a cemetery in the north of England which was said to contain a small garden of remembrance to the patients who had died while being guests at the County Asylum. Evidently, four statues stood at a cardinal compass point and were named by the seasons.

What I saw sickened me as I did not know that the memorial had been trashed by vandals. In 2008, vandals destroyed the magnificent garden of remembrance memorial, including its four statues - fragments of which lie on the ground - other parts lie in a heap of rubble next to one of two chapels - equally badly damaged. Two halves of a stone font that was toppled and broken in two lie next to the other chapel. It upsets me every time I look at the photographs.

My research revealed that a number of local youths were later charged by the police, but I can find no record of their sentencing. A shocking account of the destruction can be found HERE

It is know that 995 former patients were buried here - each marked by a memorial or headstone - but, after the local health authority sold the cemetery to developers in 1993, the headstones were taken away. I am still trying to discover what happened to them, but it is likely they were broken up for crazy-paving or crushed for use as hardcore. Three headstones escaped this and lean against a boundary fence alongside. I just cannot fathom why historic headstones could be disposed of like that. What a terrible thing to do!

The developers had the idea of using part of the area for woodland burials and renamed it Ribble Valley Remembrance Park. It has since been sold on.

Beyond the mostly barren plot, lies the Whalley (Queen Mary's Hospital) Military Cemetery. During the First World War, the 2,000 bed Queen Mary's Military Hospital was housed in the County Asylum at Whalley, remaining there until June 1920.

To see more photographs, please visit my flickr account HERE

Evidence of Erosion

2011-03-25T19:02:00.000Z

He Cometh Up and is Cut Down like a Flower. Oh how sad that the face of this headstone has eroded so much. Those around it were unaffected. I wonder what caused it?

Elswick Memorial Churchyard

Coming Soon!

2011-03-20T17:11:00.000Z

A few posts ago I mentioned I would do an extended post about the destruction of a cemetery by vandals. While in the process of writing it, I found two short pieces of video that I took and thought I would share them here. The full article and images will appear here in a few days

Submarine Memorial Marks Tragedy

2011-03-18T21:46:00.004Z

An unusual memorial in Scotland is that to those who died in 1917 when the steam-propelled submarine HMS K13 sank in Gareloch during sea trials. She was carring 80 people - 53 crew, 14 employees of the shipbuilders, five sub-contractors, five Admiralty officials, a River Clyde pilot and the captain and engineering officer from the still-completing K14. 32 crew died in the accident and 48 were rescued.

An account of the accident can be found HERE

The K class submarines earned the nickname of Kalamity class as they were involved in many accidents. Eighteen were built. None were lost through enemy action, but six sank in accidents.

Brookwood Cemetery's Saddest Memorial

2011-03-14T23:04:00.001Z

According to the author of London's Necropolis, John M Clarke the Pelham-Clinton memorial is probably the most important in the cemetery. The statue group depicts a grief-stricken man crouching over the corpse of a woman,with one hand cupped behind her head. Above them, her angelic form soars heavenward, wings outspread and her face turned back with an expression of great sympathy.

The sculpture is called Into the Way of Peace and commemorates Matilda Jane Pelham Clinton (1825-1892) who was married to Lord Edward Pelham-Clinton. She served in Queen Victoria's private household. A bronze inscription plaque was stolen some years ago. Her husband was the only non-Royal to attend Victoria's funeral in 1901. John Clarke records that the new King asked Pelham-Clinton to scatter earth on the late Queen's coffin.

Photo: Laurie Manton

Brookwood Cemetery

2011-03-13T21:30:00.001Z

Brookwood Cemetery in Surrey opened its gates in 1854 and was said to be the largest burial ground in the world when it opened. It contains around 250,000 burials. One of the most impressive memorials in Brookwood is to the memory of Lady Mary Laura Wyatt who died in 1900. The statue is said to be a likeness of the deceased who is depicted standing and reading a book. Her husband, Sir Richard Henry Wyatt died four years later from injuries and shock after he accidentally set his clothes on fire at his home.

Photo: Laurie Manton

Fan Page on Facebook

2011-03-12T12:30:00.000Z

The Graveyard Detective now has a fan page on Facebook which can be found HERE.

Ornate Decoration

2011-03-11T20:58:00.003Z

This image is taken from a collection of French glass plate negatives taken between 1910 and 1920. It is possibly somewhere in the Loiret. Note the really ornate decorations behind the impressive grave. To the left (top) are the words A NOTRE AMI. Further (below) are three words, the middle of which is CAMARADE. I take this to mean Comrade, so perhaps a military person. The words on the slab reveal the name of the deceased is Ravise and the inscription on the front of the memorial is famille Ravise-Requis. Sadly, I can read no more - perhaps someone with better eyes can read more of the top of the slab? Two clicks on the image will give you an enlargement of the photograph.

An Angel scatters Blooms

2011-03-10T20:34:00.003Z

In Chorley Cemetery, an angel scatters blooms that she has collected in her garment. When I saw this, I thought someone had slipped a charity wristband on her. A closer look revealed that her hand must have broken off and someone had used a thick layer of gum to stick the hand back on. The memorial records:

In loving memory of Matilda, wife of James Ollerton, who died January 20, 1898 aged 45 years - Not Lost But Gone Before.

Catacombs, West Norwood Cemetery, April 2010 - Derelict Places

2011-03-09T00:27:00.000Z

Catacombs, West Norwood Cemetery, April 2010 - Derelict Places

This is worth a visit. The site records a number of cemeteries and catacombs. I was impressed by the headstones resting against the wall behind the coffins!