Ivy on headstones

[Vasquez109]

Whilst visiting Cornwall, I went to the parish church at Veryan where a lot of family are buried. I undertook the mammoth task of systematically going around photographing every stone for my family.

Halfway around, one of the stones was covered in ivy and it was clamped tightly to it. I carefully pulled it off so I could see some dates but have I done the right thing? What happens if its left to its own accord?

Would we be better off pulling ivy off stones or is it doing more damage?

David.

[silvery]

When you consider that headstones usually have writing on them that's supposed to be read, pulling the ivy off seems useful.   If the headstone is that decayed that it crumbles, then it's unsafe, cannot be read and is of little practical value anyway.

[Vasquez109]

Was unsure because bits of the ivy I really had to tug to remove, it seemed to really clamp itself to the stone. Doesnt ivy cause damage when its attached to masonry?

[Fitty]

Maybe what you should have done was cut the Ivy off as low to the ground as possible.  this will cause the ivy to die and it can be pulled away with the lease amount of damage to the stone.  Which is fine if you live close to Graveyard of course 

The ariel roots of ivy are tough things and can penetrate even the smallest of cracks which over time will allow water in.  In winter when it's freezing the water expands and cracks the head stones even more.

When i'm going on a graveyard hunt i always take a small pair of secateurs with me and a stiff brush to clean up the stone before i photograph it.

I,m loving all your photos btw.

[Vasquez109]

Loving my photos? 

[Fitty]

Was it you who posted lots of Gravestone photos?    ummmm i could be wrong lol

[Vasquez109]

I've just taken loads of photos of headstones but theyre not online yet! Not me! 

[Fitty]

LOL  just call me Gipsy Rosalee!   

I must have got mixed up with someone else