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Family History Documents and Artefacts => Graveyards and Gravestones => Topic started by: bevbee on Sunday 15 July 07 13:38 BST (UK)

Title: Unusual graves.
Post by: bevbee on Sunday 15 July 07 13:38 BST (UK): I don't know whether there has been a thread like this before, but I wondered whether anyone had any photos of unusual graves?

Here are two to start off with;
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: harrywrag on Sunday 15 July 07 13:47 BST (UK): looks as thou albert was an artist/painter
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: kerryb on Sunday 15 July 07 13:47 BST (UK): The bottom gravestone is great, presumably an artist?

I just wonder whether the stonemason for the top one charged by the letter?? ::) ::)

Kerry
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: bevbee on Sunday 15 July 07 14:23 BST (UK): Thank you both,

Yes, obviously an artist and lovely, I think, to see his interest reflected in his final resting place - it tells us a little about the person.

Kerry, I don't know about that ;D but it gives no clues for anyone - I wonder why?

Bev.
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: SeaThreePeeO on Sunday 15 July 07 15:07 BST (UK): Not any of my ancestors, but I found this interesting story when reserching haunted cemeteries.

http://www.maladidaho.org/one_man_2_headstones.htm
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: bevbee on Sunday 15 July 07 15:29 BST (UK): That's interesting - there's a similar story in Wales.

Henry Hughes died in America and wanted part of himself buried back home in Wales, so his leg was buried in Strata Florida cemetery, with a carving of a leg on the grave.

Unfortunately I can't find a photo online which is clear enough to post here - maybe someone else has one?

Bev.
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: seahall on Sunday 15 July 07 15:55 BST (UK): Hi All :)

Quote
I just wonder whether the stonemason for the top one charged by the letter??

Having visited and transcribed a lot of churchyards/graveyards the 1st picture
is actually a Footstone which would sometimes be at the end of the length of
the grave or behind it if it had been moved.

The Initials are related to the people who's grave it was/is.

I will look for another example in a mo.

Sandy
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: seahall on Sunday 15 July 07 16:38 BST (UK): Here is a view showing the footstones.

Sandy
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: Sarndra on Monday 16 July 07 13:50 BST (UK): Always rather liked this one i found in my town .. it's sortof...different.

Cheers
Sarndra
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: Indaloman on Monday 16 July 07 15:08 BST (UK): Here is a sad and unusual one
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: kerryb on Monday 16 July 07 15:21 BST (UK): Here are two pictures of graves I like

Firstly the tomb of Mad Jack Fuller, 18th century entrepeneur and MP who got out of work locals to build lots of follies in East Sussex to provide them with work. He was reputed to be buried at a table inside the tomb eating lunch but I think that was a myth.

Secondly one my forebears Jonathan Harmer is locally known to have created rather nice terracottas that he put onto gravestones around East Sussex in the early to mid 1800s. I am currently going around the churchyards building a collection of the photos. See http://baldwin.rootschat.net/html/jonathan_harmer.html for the full story but basically when his son died in the 1880s the method died with him and has never been repeated.

Kerry
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: Sarndra on Monday 16 July 07 23:17 BST (UK): Quote from: kerryb on Monday 16 July 07 15:21 BST (UK)
Here are two pictures of graves I like

Firstly the tomb of Mad Jack Fuller, 18th century entrepeneur and MP who got out of work locals to build lots of follies in East Sussex to provide them with work. He was reputed to be buried at a table inside the tomb eating lunch but I think that was a myth.

[snip]

Kerry

That's a very cool myth! :-)

Cheers
Sarndra
www.sarndra.com
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: bevbee on Friday 10 August 07 18:53 BST (UK): Why is this on a grave?
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: bearkat on Friday 10 August 07 18:59 BST (UK): Perhaps the person died of smallpox or plague ???
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: bevbee on Friday 10 August 07 19:06 BST (UK): Do you think so? She died in 1928 - I'm puzzled because I've never seen this before. :o
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: bearkat on Friday 10 August 07 19:14 BST (UK): A bit late for smallpox, plague or even the spanish flu epidemic of 1918-20.

strange :-\
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: Sarndra on Saturday 11 August 07 01:19 BST (UK): Quote from: bevbee on Friday 10 August 07 18:53 BST (UK)

Why is this on a grave?

Wow! Very neat... a vampire maybe! :-)

Sarndra
www.sarndra.com
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: Raphael on Saturday 11 August 07 02:24 BST (UK): Hello All,
I think it is possible that the person died of Tuberculosis often referred to colloquially as Consumption. It was a notifiable disease in late 1800's and my Aunt who was a novice Nun died two years after I was born and was buried in St Josephs Moston Cemetery M/cr.
She died in 1929, and my Gran always said that many were buried in sealed graves. However my Aunt's father, my Grandad, was buried not long after in the same grave.. On her death certificate he was present at the time of her death, we have yet to obtain my Grandfathers Death Cert.

Just a Thought
Raphael
UK & D
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: bevbee on Saturday 11 August 07 11:07 BST (UK): If that was the case though, TB was a massive killer for many years and this is the first time I've ever seen this on a grave (and I go around a lot of cemeteries!) ;D

Wouldn't it be a common thing to see if it was because of TB?

Bev.
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: acceber on Sunday 19 August 07 10:15 BST (UK): I found this one by accident in Dyrham churchyard, Gloucestershire last week, it is the grave of my GGGG Granfather's first wife and no relation to me. I would not usually have taken a picture but the text on this gravestone was so unusual and very touching that I thought I would take a picture.

It is also remarkable that is has survived in such good condition for 192 years!

The text reads:
In memory of Dinah, wife of Thomas Sparrow, daughter of Will & Betty Brown of this parish, whose life (like the grass of the field in full bloom by the sythe of the husbandman) was cut off by that hopeless disease Consumption, in this 20th year of her age & 2nd of her marriage Sept 28th 1815.

acceber
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: bitty_matriarch on Sunday 19 August 07 10:45 BST (UK): The "possible" grave of my gt gt gt grandparents, George & Bridget RUSSELL:

(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b27/anniemcc/FH_photos/tn_008_05.jpg)

also here:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~cawthorn/Church&Chapel/baptist_upwell.html
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: bevbee on Sunday 19 August 07 11:20 BST (UK): Hi acceber, that's so beautiful and so sad, thank you for posting it.

bitty-matriarch, I hope you find the registers and are able to find out for certain that this is your ggg grandparents - its so frustrating not to be able to confirm something like that.

Bev. :)
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: mikehicks on Sunday 19 August 07 13:49 BST (UK): They did that to the Wesleyan Cemetery in Cheetham Hill and removed the remains of about a dozen of my ancestors.
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: Jean McGurn on Monday 20 August 07 15:26 BST (UK): NOT TO BE OPENED written on the side of a grave.

Maybe the family didn't want any body snatchers to disturb the grave.

Then of course it may be that someone didn't want the body exhumed for any reason. Now theres a mystery. :) worthy of a crime writer's plot.

Jean
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: kerryb on Tuesday 21 August 07 07:57 BST (UK): Does anyone know the significance of the graves like in the second photo above by Bitty? The ones that are covered from the head to foot in bricks rather than a grass mound.

Recently in Westerham churchyard in Kent I noticed a lot of graves like that and I'd not seen any before. Was it just a trend or something more?

Kerry
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: welshjo on Tuesday 21 August 07 09:00 BST (UK): Our local church has a Murder Stone in the graveyard.

I found the story and a photo on-line

http://welshmark.motime.com/?from=38

Also I know of a churchyard in Llanrhidian in the Gower where there is a stone written in rhyme about a man and his family dating to about 1646.
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: uk2003 on Wednesday 04 March 09 12:57 GMT (UK): Came across this heart shape, cut into the grave lid in the grounds of Knowle Parish Church, Warwickshire yesterday.

Nothing special about the wordings on the heart, but must have been a very loving couple.
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: Mumsie2131 on Wednesday 04 March 09 15:41 GMT (UK): The poem is reproduced in "Reminiscences of a Chief Constable" by William Chadwick, page 88:

Though once beneath the ground his corpse was laid,
For use of surgeons it was thence conveyed;
Vain was the scheme to hide the impious theft,
The body taken; shroud and coffin left.
Ye wretches, who pursue this barbarous trade,
Your carcases in turn may be conveyed,
Like his, to some unfeeling surgeon's room,
Nor can they justly meet a better doom.

It is also reproduced on Carl's Cam. This is a useful website of considerable interest. The link to the site is http://www.carlscam.com/ and you should click on 'Places' in the top left-hand corner, then click 'M', then scroll down to Mottram-in-Longdendale and choose 'St Michael's Church'. Choose 'Lewis Brierley' and the text should appear.
I thought you may all like to see this
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: bevbee on Wednesday 04 March 09 16:03 GMT (UK): Good to see this thread resurrected (if that's the appropriate word in the circumstances).

The heart grave is beautiful and the inscription on the Lewis Brierley grave (which is so close to my name I did a double- take!) is so sad. Really interesting though.

:)
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: uk2003 on Wednesday 04 March 09 17:10 GMT (UK): Here is a poem dedicated to the first police officer killed on duty in Manchester in 1867
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: Guy Etchells on Wednesday 04 March 09 18:40 GMT (UK): Or simply the owner of the plot did not want any further burials in it.
Cheers
Guy
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: Annie65115 on Wednesday 04 March 09 19:25 GMT (UK): I found this one in the graveyard at Mancetter, Warwickshire. Imagine the frustration of thinking this could be your family but not knowing for sure!

(I've not tried inserting an image before - here goes ----)
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: Annie65115 on Wednesday 04 March 09 19:29 GMT (UK): And I won't post a picture but I'm rather fond of a gravestone in Orston, Notts, which reads:

In memory of
William Dyer
who died Jan27 1861
aged 82 years
A brand plucked from the burning

and of MARY his wife
who died April 4 1849
aged 64 years
Blessed is the peacemaker
I think theirs must have been known as an argumentative household!
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: ali607 on Saturday 07 March 09 22:14 GMT (UK): Found this while looking for gggg grandma's unmarked grave...sad story that caught my eye - a stark reminder of the dangers of coal mining

Alison
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: Viktoria on Sunday 08 March 09 00:13 GMT (UK): As a child I always thought the verse on a distant relative`s grave somewhat inappropriate. The man,a brother to my great-grandfather had been killed when the rope from which a basket-yes -a basket had been suspended broke and he plummeted hundreds of feet down a mineshft. He and another man had been carrying out routine maintenance work on the lining to the shaft. The date was 1875. Here is the verse from The Baptist Hymnal. . Plagues and death around me fly ;
Till he bids I cannot die;
Not a single SHAFT shall hit;
Till the God of love sees fit . (My capitals) I still think it a bit strange,and someone from another branch of the family had lost a little two year old girl and this still reduces me to tears:- ,Was to my parents as a rose ,a flower sweet and good, but death you see has called on me and nipped me in the bud.These two are in a lovely isolated country graveyard attached to a little Baptist Chapel. Viktoria
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: Marion_C on Sunday 08 March 09 00:50 GMT (UK): Quote from: bevbee on Sunday 15 July 07 13:38 BST (UK)
I don't know whether there has been a thread like this before, but I wondered whether anyone had any photos of unusual graves?

Here are two to start off with;

Bevbee,

I think the grave with the initials on might be a grave for foundlings. I'm a volunteer tour guide at a cemetery where there are several such graves. If records survive for the cemetery in question you might be able to check that out.

Marion
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: Preshous on Sunday 08 March 09 17:40 GMT (UK): Quote from: ali607 on Saturday 07 March 09 22:14 GMT (UK)
Found this while looking for gggg grandma's unmarked grave...sad story that caught my eye - a stark reminder of the dangers of coal mining

Not an unusual stone but sad 3 members of the same family killed on the same day :'( . Just to add 220 men and boys died in that accident.
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: Preshous on Sunday 08 March 09 18:04 GMT (UK): Again not unusual but my favorite gravestone for its inscription.
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: toby webb on Wednesday 17 February 10 17:07 GMT (UK): This is, for me, an unusual monument made of oak ( Art Nouveau style )and very close to 100 years old. It is in a Bournemouth Cemetery. Has anyone else come across anything like it? ( Would it be called a tombwood?)
Toby.
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: Guy Etchells on Thursday 18 February 10 06:47 GMT (UK): That type is often named a leaping board Toby.
Cheers
Guy
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: Chris in 1066Land on Thursday 18 February 10 10:27 GMT (UK): Hi Toby

There are a lot of those 'leaping boards' in the churchyards of Lewes, but in their case they are usually made of metal - most likely cast at the now closed Phoenix Iron Works in Lewes.

Will try to find a picture to attache to this message

Chris in 1066
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: Chris in 1066Land on Thursday 18 February 10 10:33 GMT (UK): Hi again

Just found this on the web, shows the leaping boards in 'St Annes without' in Lewes

Chris in 1066
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: kerryb on Thursday 18 February 10 10:34 GMT (UK): I believe leaping boards are common around Sussex, I have seen one at Chiddingly churchyard and I am sure somewhere else.

Kerry
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: toby webb on Friday 19 February 10 08:41 GMT (UK): Thanks for all the interest and help. What sort of date are we talking about with the cast iron boards ?
Incidentally I find from a book that I located yesterday that another name is Grave-boards.
Toby.
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: jencairns on Friday 01 June 12 16:27 BST (UK): couldnt find the quote facility...
In Re: Unusual graves. Sunday 15 July 07 15: Bevbee wrote
"That's interesting - there's a similar story in Wales.
Henry Hughes died in America and wanted part of himself buried back home in Wales, so his leg was buried in Strata Florida cemetery, with a carving of a leg on the grave.
Unfortunately I can't find a photo online which is clear enough to post here - maybe someone else has one? Bev. "

Here is a photo of the grave, well looked after in Strata Florida. (If you are in the graveyard facing the church door, it is close to the church wall on the left/north of the church.

Jen
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: bevbee on Friday 01 June 12 16:53 BST (UK): That's great Jen, thanks very much.

Bev. :D
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: diggerman2 on Saturday 02 June 12 23:05 BST (UK): Quote from: bevbee on Friday 10 August 07 18:53 BST (UK)

Why is this on a grave?

There's a gravestone in my local cemetery with a similar inscription - of a ships captain who died in 1912.
Apparently he fell into the river from his ship , so it kinda discounts the disease theory
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: bevbee on Sunday 03 June 12 11:21 BST (UK): Since I posted that question I have read a book on smallpox and apparently they would put it on graves of a smallpox victim because that disease stays active for a very long time.

Doesn't explain the accidental death of the sea captain having that inscription though. ::)
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: jencairns on Sunday 03 June 12 13:39 BST (UK): I was sceptical of this idea until a few moments ago.. some interesting comments here about the longevity of microbes and viruses in permafrost - appears to be a reliable source of info.

http://www.livescience.com/2403-climate-threat-thawing-tundra-releases-infected-corpses.html

Other plagues such as Cholera and Leprosy or tuberculosis didn't seem to provoke such a reaction. I have come across mention of deaths from smallpox, cholera and tb in parish registers and on tombstones here in Cardiganshire, but I haven't spotted any grave with an opening prohibition. Perhaps someone can supply me with somer?!

Jen
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: g forgeron on Sunday 03 June 12 17:19 BST (UK): This one is in Strathlachlan cemetery
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: weste on Tuesday 05 June 12 16:29 BST (UK): In respect to the tiangular one by kerryb. I saw a triangular one on the shiverpool tour. Supposed to be someone in there seated a table with playing cards after playing with the devil!
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: jencairns on Tuesday 05 June 12 17:06 BST (UK): Quote from: weste on Tuesday 05 June 12 16:29 BST (UK)
In respect to the tiangular one by kerryb. I saw a triangular one on the shiverpool tour. Supposed to be someone in there seated a table with playing cards after playing with the devil!

Creepy... which churchyard was that in ?
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: jencairns on Tuesday 05 June 12 17:12 BST (UK): re bevbee's very first post (the small stone with three sets of initials)

The Parish church of Lampeter has many similar stones. Most of them were people from the local Workhouse. Here it is known who is referred to by the initials as the workhouse kept records - which are now in Ceredigion Archives in Aberystwyth - but maybe your stone was in memory of newborn or very young children?

Jen
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: weste on Tuesday 05 June 12 19:12 BST (UK): Can't remember which one but was only a small one. I've got a photo of it somewhere. I will look it out. There is also something on the net because i remember googling it. I'll try and find the link.The liverpool cathedral where the hungerford memorial is has some gravestones along it walk also, very strange. Also in bilston i, wolverhampton there are/was some metal gravestone plaques on the paths i believe at st leonards. some metal ones.
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: jencairns on Wednesday 06 June 12 13:58 BST (UK): TRIANGLE SHAPED GRAVESTONE
Just read this... might be helpful, "Pyramid - Eternity. It was supposed that a pyramid-shaped tombstone prevented the devil from reclining on a grave"
from this interesting site - http://www.thecemeteryclub.com/symbols.html

Jen
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: bevbee on Wednesday 06 June 12 14:13 BST (UK): Quote
re bevbee's very first post (the small stone with three sets of initials)

The Parish church of Lampeter has many similar stones. Most of them were people from the local Workhouse. Here it is known who is referred to by the initials as the workhouse kept records - which are now in Ceredigion Archives in Aberystwyth - but maybe your stone was in memory of newborn or very young children?

Jen

Interesting Jen, thanks; the workhouse theory hadn't occurred to me; it makes sense, but did the workhouse authorities pay for the stone?
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: wilcoxon on Wednesday 06 June 12 14:19 BST (UK): This is in Anglesey , St Cwfans , Church in the Bay, near Aberffraw .
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: wilcoxon on Wednesday 06 June 12 14:20 BST (UK): FRANK MORLEY GURNEY

On the picturesque St Cwfans island, Anglesey `Church in the bay` there is a gravestone for Frank Morley Gurney who drowned in July 1869.
“ To the memory of Frank Morley Gurney son of Mr F K Gurney of Moore Park Villas Walham Cross London who was drowned in Porth Trecastell the 31st of July 1869 in his 21st year"

I `ve often visited this lovely place and always wondered about this young man, who was he; what about his family, and more importantly are there any relations around now that probably don’t even know that he existed?

With a little research I have managed to discover the event that happened all those years ago, and a little more about the young man and his family

The North Wales Chronicle August 7th 1869
Wreck of a Vessel and Loss of Life.
“During a gale on Friday the Iron Barque Dalton (Capt. Towill ) bound from Valparasio to Liverpool with a cargo of wheat, copper ore, honey etc was driven out of her course and struck between 12 and 1 o` clock on the rocks near Trecastell in Anglesey. In getting to the boat to save themselves one of the crew was thrown into the water and drowned, and another received very serious injuries from falling to the deck while trying to reef the sails. The ship, which is the property of Captains Steel and Bell is still on the rocks, but so far steady, and it is the opinion of the owners and experienced engineers that she can be got off without any serious damage should the weather continue fine. All hands are hard at work to save ship and cargo, and the owners and Captain Cawkit with the skilful aid of Mr Paul the engineer and other of their staff are labouring hard for this object”.
The Dalton was a fairly new vessel, registered at 592 tons, she had been launched by Messrs Bowdler , Chaffer and Co a few weeks earlier and Capt Towill, an experienced seaman was well known on the West Coast Trade.
Valparasio is on the coast of Chile, and played an important geopolitical role in the second half of the 19th century, when the city served as a major stopover for ships traveling between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by crossing the straights of Magellan and Cape Horn.

Western Mail Cardiff Friday, August 6, 1869;
Obituaries
`On the 31st July drowned while nobly volunteering to save papers of value from the ship Dalton wrecked in Carnarvon Bay, Frank Morley the dearly beloved son of Mr F K Gurney of Woodstock Street, and Moore Park Villas, Fulham, in his 21st year. `
Even though he died in July 1869 the death wasn`t registered until June Qtr 1870 at Anglesey.
Frank was born in 1848 and was the youngest son of Frederick Kingston Gurney and Matilda nee Morley; his brothers were Frederick Kingston and John Henry
By 1871 John Henry has become an “ Heraldic Artist` and Frederick Kingston jnr had joined Her Majesty’s Navy.
Frederick Kingston senior was an engraver and draughtsman with his own business.
Sadly his wife Matilda died in 1850 leaving him with three young sons, they were cared for by Matilda`s mother for a while He remarried ten years later.
Frederick Kingston Gurney died in 1906 at the age of 90.
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: weste on Wednesday 06 June 12 19:33 BST (UK): Just found the grave i previously mentioned in liverpool. It's in st andrews church graveyard in rodney street. I googled and found an article entitled liverpools pyramid. It is the grave of a william mackenzie. There's a picture of it. Also the shiverpool site has a picture of some gravestones which you stand by on the ghost walk in the grounds of the anglican cathedral, loads of info there is on them.
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: Guy Etchells on Thursday 07 June 12 07:00 BST (UK): Quote from: jencairns on Tuesday 05 June 12 17:12 BST (UK)
re bevbee's very first post (the small stone with three sets of initials)

The Parish church of Lampeter has many similar stones. Most of them were people from the local Workhouse. Here it is known who is referred to by the initials as the workhouse kept records - which are now in Ceredigion Archives in Aberystwyth - but maybe your stone was in memory of newborn or very young children?

Jen

The small stones with intials are footstones, they marked the opposite end of a grave to the headstone.
There is an excellent example (one of the few left in existence) of a row of graves with headstones and footstones at Snailwell, Cambridgeshire.

Cheers
Guy
PS Just googled Snailwell footstone and a good picture came up in the results at Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gravestones_at_Snailwell_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1067272.jpg

PPS The image shows the Headstone, stele (lid) and footstone
Title: Re: Unusual graves.
Post by: lyn22 on Thursday 07 June 12 07:29 BST (UK): This is my G Grandparents grave at Dandenong Cemetary Victoria 1918 Eliza Jane Tait and Enoch Alexander Bailey .

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