Grave Art

Looking at some of the grave art and symbolism in Lancashire's Accrington Cemetery, I came across three examples of Angels that I had not seen before:

Kensal Green Statuary

These memorials in Kensal Green cemetery have been smothered  by Ivy and tree growth. One is in the first stage of reclamation. The others await reclamation.

Star Angel

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.

An Angel scatters Blooms

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.

More Angels with Stars

Now I can't stop finding them. These two angels are marking graves in St Anne's Churchyard in Lancashire. They, too, have stars on the heads. Has anyone else noticed them elsewhere?

Angels raise a Question

When I visited Brookwood Cemetery many, many years ago, I took photographs of several of the angel memorials. When scanning the negatives recently, I noticed they had stars on their heads. Does anyone know why? I read somewhere that a five pointed star on a memorial linked the deceased to Freemasonry.

Sleeping Angel

Today, I found an external hard drive that I had been looking for for ages. It was packed with lots of photographs of exciting places I had visited during days out with the local art society. Hemington is a lovely country hamlet in Somerset and it has picturesque church and churchyard. Having just posted about a fading angel, I was pleased to find an example of a sleeping angel. I don't ever remember seeing one before.

Fading Angel

There are many, many Angels marking graves in Locksbrook Cemetery in Bath. This one surprised me as I don't think I have come across another where the face is fading away. The most recent inscription on the grave is that of Florence Mary Taylor who died on 13 June 1942 aged 68. It is much earlier than that.

Arnos Vale Cemetery - an Angel Heaven

If you are interested in Angels, then the magnificent Arnos Vale cemetery is the place to go. I have been to dozens of cemeteries and churchyards across the world, but this heavenly plot is one of the best. Forty-five acres of Angel Heaven is how I describe it to people since my visit two weeks ago. Every time I look at the images I took, it makes the hairs on my neck stand up - such is the beauty of the funerary architecture on public display. Here are just three of them:

The Blue Angel

A recent post of a photograph of a blue angel in Locksbrook Cemetery in Bath asking whether readers preferred the colour or black and white version of the shot, raised a question from Margaret Pangert who asked what the orginal colour was. The colour version was exactly as photographed and had not been manipulated at all. Here are three more photographs of the same angel which gives a better idea of her location. She is mounted on top of a large sarcophagus style tomb commemorating a Lieutenant General in the British Army who died in the 1840s. I am not aware of the significance of the banner she appears to be studying. Please remember to click on the photographs for an enlarged view!

Monochrome or Colour?

A Photographic Dilemma

In these days of digital photography, it is easy to switch a digital image from colour to black and white with just a couple of clicks of the computer mouse, assuming of course that you have the right software to be able to do it.

On my short visit to Locksbrook Cemetery in Bath, I took around 450 photographs - just a snapshot of the grave art treasures it contains. One in particular caught my eye - a striking, seated angel on a sarcophagus tomb. People often say that black and white photographs are more atmospheric. With this shot, I am not sure. I think both work very well. Which do you prefer - colour or black and white?

Sad Eyes of an Angel

The downcast eyes of this angel add to the poignancy of the graveyard scene

When Angels Look Down

This angel has plucked a bloom and is dropping it, but why? The reason will be revealed in a separate post.