Grave Stones

[Jane Masri]

EXCELLENT Pam.  Thanks,

Jane

[Gardener]

Someone (on Rootschat?) said he took along a mirror on a sunny day to angle the light onto the stone...

[kmo]

Can't remember where I read it.  But someone suggested using shaving foam as an aid to reading M.I's

[celia]

When i take photo's of headstones i always choose a bright day.If  the insription on the stone is clear but might not be on the photo because it's facing the wrong way. After i have downloaded it. I just alter the contast to bring the  inscripion up. Somtime's the photo looks better than the stone
If i know the inscription wont show up well i just copy it and make the photo small. No piont in taking photo's of headstones  without a inscriptions. I have never been round a church graveyard. so i dont have the problem of trying to read old stones,thank goodness , because i dont think i could

Celia

[Gardener]

Can't remember where I read it.  But someone suggested using shaving foam as an aid to reading M.I's

I'm not sure that is a very good idea. The oils and so on are bound to soak in and stay quite while and the temporary look would be dreadful

[D ap D]

I've read on several sites that shaving foam should be completely avoided, as the chemicals in it attack the surface of the stone. Although it makes it easier for you to read it, a couple of years down the line it will most likely be unreadable.

Chalk dust is relatively harmless, but looks a bit messy once you've finished. Even if you wash the stone down when you've finished, you're still left with a mess on the ground around.

Rubbing is supposed to be one of the better methods, but you need a fair amount of paper, especially if you're doing a few stones in a single graveyard.

I did find a good site a while ago with advantages and disadvantages of usual methods. Can'T find the link just now, so I'll have a search and update when I find it.

D

[Nick Carver]

The tip I was given by somebody encouraging me to read the local MIs for the FHS was to take a scrubbing brush and soapy water. The act of slightly cleaning the area by the inscription leaves the dirt in the inscription, increasing its legibility. The type of stone used contributes also. There are some stones less than 100 years old that are totally unreadable and some clearly visible 300 years on.

[newbie]

HI Everyone,
Last Saturday I persuaded my other half to take me to the Graveyard where I thought (optimistically) I would find some of my ancestors graves.  I was so dismayed, only the newer graves were legible, the others were so badly worn away they were totally obscured.  I just hadn't realised (this was my first attempt) how difficult it would be.
I was also ill equipped, should have taken some paper for rubbings, may just have been able to discern something, so have been following the advice given here, of the gravestones that I was able to read I quickly realised that I had no idea what I should be recording and in what format - any ideas? is there a prescribed or preferred method?
Newbie

[Nick Carver]

There is no prescribed format for recording the details - sometimes you will see abbreviations ILMO (in loving memory of) or STTMO (sacred to the memory of) - otherwise the details are recorded verbatim together with the shape of the monument, for which standard terminologies apply. I have a list somewhere of these and will post if anyone thinks it of value.