Re Cleaning Gravestones !!

[GRACELAND]

So what would you do ??
 My option Would have to Be Number 2 too the point i could read all the info on the stone !!

I believe The reason why we have gravestones is to remember the person that lies below A name /Male /female age etc Plus you can then relate to that person Know the time they lived in etc !!

 Its no good Saying about stone henge it is not the same thing at all !!
 Grave stone are still being use today and would you like your loved ones stone covered in moss for got about in a corner

                   The Answer is NO !! you would not !!
                        Moss on the back yes  !!   Keep the front clean then we can read it as it was ment to be !!

[KarenM]

I havn't had to really clean off any headstones to read them yet, but on the topic of headstones, I just had the cemetery fix my great-grandmother's headstone the other week.  It is a flat stone and over the years was sinking into the ground and the corners were covered with grass and dirt.  When you bury the person you pay a lifetime maintenance fee for the care, such as cutting the grass and included is the headstone.  She died in 1960, so not really old, but it is now back in it's original position.  I like to think she would be happy that I had it fixed up for her.

Karen

[apanderson]

This should be interesting Graceland!!

I've just posted a bit of a long winded reply on the previous 'Cleaning gravestones' thread.

I'll be really intereseted to see how the voting goes.

Anne

[GRACELAND]

This is a bit like our churches if they become redundant should we pull then down !!
 
Why Do we clean Historic Pictures ??

Don't say we don't i know we do !!

What about national gardens should we let nature take over ?
Imagine next time you visit a National Trust Garden and see it covered in Brambles
 You Say what's happen "Sorry Sir /Madam We had To let Nature In !!"
 

A bit Far Fetched but the same 

[smeghead]

I have spent hours around graveyards looking for graves some are quite faded i would clean of to get all information particular if there was a key to my research

                                  Jim

[Bee]

I've cleaned stones so that I could read the details but I must remember next time I go on a graveyard ramble to take extra cleaning rags with me, paper hankies don't last very long

Bee

p.s. what's the point in having a headstone that no one can read?

[wellie]

I'm with you Gracland No 2
Whats the point in having a stone if you cannot read it.
Wellie

[apanderson]

A definate no-no for me.

After having read everything I can find on this particular subject, I find myself siding completely with professional opinions - and this is DON'T TOUCH!

Anne

[trystan]

From my experience going round (dragged round) graveyards by Sarah:

If a gravestone from a glance definately is not the right one, obviously I would leave it alone.

If details are obscured then I would pull back any grass, or ivy to try and see the detail.

If I thought in any way that the grave could be damaged by my action, then I wouldn't disturb it. Also in the same manner, after disturbing any ivy or grass then I'd lay it back on. God's a better garderner than me, and knows best.

In cleaning a grave, whether it be my relative or not, it gives a great moment of thought, reflection and respect for that person that was laid there, to think that somebody loved them enough to lay a stone for them, and for one moment to imagine their personality.

Don't tell Sarah, but I love grave hunting with her!

Trystan