Double marking of graves

[Molly Atkin]

I've found some family graves from mid 19th century that have the usual size of headstone with a much smaller one immediately in front. Sometimes the smaller gravestone appears to have the initials of the person whose name is given in full behind but often the smaller stone obscures part of the inscription on the bigger one. Does anyone know the purpose of the small stone - I thought it might be a temporary marker until the 'real' stone was placed in position but then why leave the small one?

Regards
Molly

[C P Rayson]

Hi Molly

We have a number of these in our local Churchyard, usually position at the foot of the grave

Is it possible that yours has been relocated to ease access and/or maintenence

Regards

Chris

[Molly Atkin]

I'm not sure but it's a possibility. If the small ones had started off at the foot then moving them to make them flush with the large headstone would certainly help maintenance but why keep them at all as they don't seem to serve any purpose and moving them just covers up part of the larger headstone? It's a mystery to me!

Cheers
Molly

[Vasquez109]

Hi Molly,

I was about to post the same sort of thing myself, but with a twist. These ones came from Cornwall, but arent at the foot of the grave, but adjacent. Confused me competely as im currently putting photos of the whole cemetery online.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=51375358

David.

[Bilge]

I have come across this myself and I assumed that it was a marker for the grave postion when the coffin was first interred.
Then after the grave had settled the larger stone was put in place. Or was it a marker for a reserved plot, something that I am led to believe occurred a lot during Victorian times.

[toni*]

do you mean the foot stone ?

[Molly Atkin]

But, if it was the initial marker for the grave, why leave it there and put the final, larger headstone immediately behind it so part is obscured? Or is the small stone the foot stone which has been moved to rest against the headstone for purposes of cemetery maintenance? What was the purpose of the foot stone?

Cheers
Molly

[Vasquez109]

In my case, its to the side by about 3ft! Im confused too!

[toni*]

chris in1066 land will probably knew the answer  he is a font of all knowledge when it comes to gravestones and marking