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Family History Documents and Artefacts => Graveyards and Gravestones => Topic started by: Vasquez109 on Saturday 05 February 11 13:41 GMT (UK)
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After a chat with a few friends we thought it would be a good idea to list all MI for a local churchyard. We have never done this before and wondering if anyone has any advice before we start. We chose a small churchyard to practice on before we tackle our main priority of a much larger burial ground.
We would like to make some sort of map but not sure how practical this would be.
Any advice?
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Never done it, but think it's a great idea. Before you start you may want to check that someone hasn't beaten you to it though. ;)
These days with headstones being removed for safety reasons (or whatever), some old churchyards are looking pretty empty. ;)
Best of luck with it.
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Thanks Ruskie. We did check and it hasnt been done. But for practice, it wouldnt have mattered if it had been done. This is the warm up one. Need to iron out all wrinkles before the big one!
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Good on you - it's a worthwhile thing you're doing. :)
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Hi
Your local family history society should have experience of of transcribing monumental inscriptions and will be able to give you local advice and also hopefully some support.
The Federation of Family History Societies lists all the societies and their contacts and websites
http://www.ffhs.org.uk/members2/england/eng-beds.php
Regards
Valda
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Greatly noted. Thank you Valda!
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Take coffee and a friend for company. It is very time consuming.!
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Hi,
I have helped on two MI's lists of grave yards.
Both times we were all given the same map of the graveyard split in to very definite sections (one section each week) and also a uniform record sheet so that everyone records the same things in the right order.
I would also add that as daft as it sounds, information must be written down as it reads - don't be tempted to correct, or guess at worn bits.
You could also make a photographic record of each stone too.
Best wishes,
Copperbeech5
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TAke some chalk and some water to pour over headstones that are worn, to bring up the carvings.
use standard abbreviations, e.g. ILM = in loving memory, to save having to write every word
Take something like a folding stool if you can, as it gets very tiring and you can't always sit on the gravesides.
Summer? Take a hat and water
Winter? Wear warm clothing
Always - wear closed in shoes to guard against bities, prickly grass, etc. Might be a good idea to have gardening gloves too, in case you have to lift a heavy dirty stone.
Always - have patience and good humour.
Don't forget your lunch / elevenses.
Dawn M
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Hi Dawn.
We managed it ok, but not before I almost broke my leg falling into a grave. What didnt help either was the communication! We should have had a clear plan of who was going to to what.
We sort of turned up and got to work. Plenty of duplicates and im sure some were missed as each person left some for the others. Not sure it was 100%.
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The mind boggles! ;D ;D ;D ;D
My OH broke his foot once, stepping in a big hole so I sympathise with you, in your fall.
Next time, you'll have a designated leader, I'm sure! If only to make sure it all gets done.
;D ;D ;D ;D
Dawn M
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I remember we went to Cottingham, Northamptonshire. And for some reason a part of the grave yard is fenced off with no access point.
I thought it would be easy to get over a 4ft high wooden fence (which it should have been). As I was about to straddle the top, my foot slipped on the wet timber and I came crashing down.
Something soft and dangly connected with a 3" x 3" post top. Pain ensured all day! >:(
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Cottingham Churchyard , same place as me David. :)
I was just re covering from my operation and Hubby was livid when
I declared I was going to get over the same fence.
In Kings Sutton Cemetery I thought I had been stung by a nettle whilst
trying to get take a gravestone only to find out whatever bit me turned
septic and I had to have antibiotics.
If I had seen the post at the time I could have warned you about the
pit falls (get it) LOL.
I usually take an overhead map and portion it off into sections
before going to the area and also go back to ensure I have not
missed any.
Not a good hobby to keep safe in old Churchyards/Cemeteries is it.
Sandy
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Still baffles me why that area is fenced off. Surely someone must have thought to make a little gate?
How odd!
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The Churchyard is on a steep hill with the graves all sloping
downwards and with pitfalls all over the area.
I would imagine the Church do not want to be held responsible
for injuries that may occur by people trying to read inscriptions.
Sandy