Brampton Graveyard

[bobgraham]

Cari, you may be in luck. I took a detour this morning but without Rewcastles directions  I would definitely have given up. Anyway 1.3 miles from the town centre is Brampton Old Cemetary! The new cemetary is 250 yds nearer the town.
And guess what? There are several obelisks - really big ones. I didn't have time to examine any of them and I'm tied up all weekend but I promise to visit the place again next week and if there is a camera lying round the house I'll take some pics of the old church made from stone from the roman wall. Fascinating and thank you Rewcastle.
(doing this at work)
bob

[carigreen]

You`re a star Bob - look forward to hearing from you next week.  Have a great w/e
Cari

[bobgraham]

Sorry Cari, went tonight and none of the obelisls were your gggr's
In fact the steps in your photo look more like the parish church in town. I'll check tomorrow. Don't despair tho'. Last week in the local paper there was someone asking where the records for the old cemetary were hiding. They were last seen when the river washed some of the bodies out of the cemetary. I'll also try Irthington when I get back. These are the old parish church built from the roman wall but when nobody knows. But there has been a church on the site since the 1200's
bob

[bobgraham]

CARI. I FOUND IT! Ooops sorry to shout.
I found it last night. It's the poshest gravestone in Brampton! In pink granite/marble!  It's laid on it's side at the entrance to the new parish church graveyard. Unfortunately it was raining so hard that I couldn't stay to write anything but there are at least 2 very legible inscriptions. Provided the rain lets up I'll call again tonight with camera and note pad. It's not broken , just split into 2 parts and the obelisk laid on it's side.  Wheee!
bob

[bobgraham]

The rain let up late on and I ventured out in my waders and souwester. Her's what it do say; Cari I think the one you want is

John, son of Edward and Margaret Pickering died at Beck Brow Jan 23 1841 aged 50 years.

But on the other two faces are

Edward Pickering died at Beck Brow Jan 13 1835 aged 78 years.

and

Margaret, wife of Edward Pickering died at Aaronstown Feb 11 1832 aged 72 years.
(Aaronstown is not my misspelling if it is a misspelling)!
Geoff can you help with the geography?
Also intersting was the fact that the plinth was resting on a vertical conventional headstone in the local sandstone so very difficult to decipher (and mostly covered by granite plinth) but words to the effect "in memory of Edward and Margaret Pickering ........
Also interesting is the roof of the church is being worked on and I wonder if these tombstones have been temporarily removed to allow access to the work. A polite letter to the vicar might elucidate.
Madame took local directory to France wth her so can't help with address.
bob

[GeoffE]

(Aaronstown is not my misspelling if it is a misspelling)!

Map http://tinyurl.com/6nvmyj

[bobgraham]

and beck brow? the nearest is miles away with loads of churches inbetween. Or is there a local little beck (stream) with a brow (hill) that is just an address and not a village?
bob

[bobgraham]

Geoff'
The was a John PICKERING who died shortly before the census-
Deaths Mar 1841 
PICKERING    John         Brampton    25   21
looks like you spotted him. see inscription.

[GeoffE]

Geoff'
There was a John PICKERING who died shortly before the census-
Deaths Mar 1841 
PICKERING    John         Brampton    25   21
looks like you spotted him. see inscription.

Yes, I thought that too.