Disappearing Gravestones

As you enter the graveyard behind St Wilfrid's RC Church in the Lancashire town of Longridge, you face a lawned area with a handful of memorials on view. Look closer and you might notice what appear to be stepping stones of various sizes. They are not. The stones are headstones that have, in the past, been laid flat to - I presume - allow for easier mowing of the grass.

While this sort of thing is increasingly done across Britain, I have a concern. In the case of Longridge, many of the headstones, which bear the names of individuals and family members who have died and are being commemorated, are being overgrown and could end up lost to view. I find this disrespectful and hope something is done to uncover the headstones. I photographed several examples which include some fine examples of cemetery symbolism. If anyone knows who is responsible for the upkeep of the graveyard, I would be interested to know.

Fallen Angels

Fallen angels and mourning figures at Southport Cemtery

Cemetery Chapel

The Duke Street Cemetery in Southport was opened in 1866 and is dominated by this impressive double chapel and memorial tower:

Bird Life

I am used to seeing the single bird leaning over the top of a headstone, but I have not seen these double birds before. On the first, the bird faces its mate which seems to be preening its feathers. On the second, one bird is looking away. Quite what this means, I am not sure. I have included two other bird stones as well from my visit to the Duke Street Cemetery in Southport.

Vandalism or What?

I visited Duke Street cemetery in Southport and noticed this memorial. Note the red tear running from the figure's left eye. I am unsure whether this is paint (but why) or blood. I think I favour the latter. There were a number of unsavoury characters in the cemetery and wonder whether one of them who had been injured in a drunken fight did this. It is the way the colour is smeared and smudged that leads me to consider  it may be congealed blood. If it had been paint, why is there so little and why didn't it run downwards - the angle of descent seems wrong. There is a spot, also, just above the elbow of the figure- a fingerprint?  Artistic vandal or bleeding yob? I just don't know. Any suggestions appreciated. Click once and then again for a very enlarged view.

Memorials as far as the Eye can See!

As you will know, I visited Liverpool Road Cemetery in Southport recently and was stunned by the sight of so many magnificent memorials. Having more than 300 images to choose from, I found found it so difficult to decide which to post here, first. So, as an interim measure, I thought I should post a small selection to give you a flavour of what can be seen there. Marvellous!

Packhorses Carry A Body Home

In some parts of rural China, the only way to get a relative's body home was in a wooden box strung between two horses like this scene on the Shansi Pass. The photograph was taken by Lt Charles F Gammon who was the American Bible Society's agent in Tien Tsin and was, for many years, commissioned by the Chinese government as a military instructor in Tien Tsin University. He was in China at the peak of the Boxer Rebellion in 1900 and was in the city when 700 Russian soldiers defended the city against more than 10,000 Chinese 'Boxers'. Gammon took many photographs during his time in China, many of which were published as postcards. His book, Souvenir Album of China contained 450 such photographs. He died in 1926 and is buried in Arlington Cemetery.