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Anna Fairley Nielsson

@annaandthedead.bsky.social

240 followers 48 following 220 posts

Photographer and archaeologist undertaking AHRC-funded research into the archaeology of Liverpool's cemeteries 🪦 She/her 🏳️‍🌈 https://linktr.ee/annafn

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Anna Fairley Nielsson @annaandthedead.bsky.social · 7h

It's true that you don't see "Dr" on the grave here too often either. However at this stage of my PhD I am seriously considering it!

Anna Fairley Nielsson @annaandthedead.bsky.social · 7h

🥲

Reposted by Anna Fairley Nielsson

Wendy @hyssop.bsky.social · 11h

#31daysofgraves “Damaged” Every year the elements damage this faithful dog a little more, but he still waits for his mistress. Cimetiere de Solliès-Toucas

A tawny ceramic greyhound rests alongside his mistress’s grave. A plaque reads “Chien lévrier veillant sur le repos de sa maîtresse” (Greyhound watching over his mistress’s rest)

A tawny ceramic greyhound rests alongside his mistress’s grave. His back is losing its paint, and his ear has been repaired.

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Anna Fairley Nielsson @annaandthedead.bsky.social · 10h

#31DaysOfGraves Day 15 - Damaged: This stone is on display at the Museum of Liverpool. It once stood in St Paul's Churchyard (demolished in 1931). The remaining inscription commemorates Roger Roberts d.1799, Ann Malbon d.1833, and John Malbon d.1844.

A broken slate gravestone in a display case in a museum.

A flip book shows photos of both sides of the stone and the location of St Paul's church along with a contemporary image.

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Reposted by Anna Fairley Nielsson

orsa-marga.bsky.social @orsa-marga.bsky.social · 1d

Day 14: Inside Tag 14: Innen
Just in case! Alarm clock to be used from the inside of the coffin. It is part of the sepulture museum at the #Zentralfriedhof #Wien
#31DaysOfGraves

orsa-marga.bsky.social @orsa-marga.bsky.social · Dec 15

'Glocken' #FotoVorschlag
"Rettungswecker" so konnte der Lebendigbegrabene die Glocke auf dem Kasten oben läuten von 1726 #Wien Bestattungsmuseum

Konstruktion aus Strippen und Hebeln, einem Kasten mit einer Glocke oben drauf, zwei kaum erkennbare Schilder zur Erklärung

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Reposted by Anna Fairley Nielsson

Bruderherz @trailchaser.bsky.social · 1d

Unfortunately, the original #31DaysOfGraves feed is broken and cannot be repaired.

Here's a simple new feed that searches exclusively for posts with #31DaysOfGraves.

(2/2)

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Anna Fairley Nielsson @annaandthedead.bsky.social · 1d

Amazing!!

Reposted by Anna Fairley Nielsson

Holundra 🐌 @holundra.bsky.social · 1d

Tag 14 • Inside / Innen

Alt-Bülker Begräbnis
📍 Kirche Dänischenhagen

Mehr Fotos und Infos: holundra.de/2025/06/kirc...

#31DaysOfGraves #cemetery #graveyard

Mausoleum with 30 different styled coffins, The window can be opened to have a look into the room.

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Anna Fairley Nielsson @annaandthedead.bsky.social · 1d

I haven’t! *adds to wishlist*

Anna Fairley Nielsson @annaandthedead.bsky.social · 1d

#31DaysOfGraves Day 14 - Inside: Inside some of Liverpool's C19th crypts - St Anthony's, St Anne's, and St John the Evangelist. A book chapter on them is in progress!

A long arched brick hallway. In the foreground it is possible to see bricked up loculi on either side.

A vaulted crypt passageway with a memorial on the far wall. Two entrances to vaults are bricked up on either side.

A large iron door in the centre of a large bricked up archway.

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Anna Fairley Nielsson @annaandthedead.bsky.social · 2d

Yes I had to look elsewhere too - not many skeletons in England’s Victorian cemeteries either!

Reposted by Anna Fairley Nielsson

Katie Crane @ohfolkthat.bsky.social · 2d

#31DaysOfGraves
Day 13 - Skeleton

Two lovely little skeletons on the grave of Cirsten Biset in Greyfriars Burial Ground, Perth, Scotland. The other side has this fantastic ship even though it was her 'spowse' Robert Browhowse who was the 'sailer.' She 'dyed' the '22th' of May 1747.

A beautifully carved gravestone in Greyfriars Burial Ground Perth, Scotland. The top has a winged cherub head. Two scrolls are on the sides with two skeletons below them. The scroll on the right side has the letters "BA IS IO EL GR MA" vertically down the scroll as if the scroll is not fully unrolled. The scroll on the left also has vertical letters but they all are the letter B. The very bottom of the stone has a banner but it has been damaged and if there were any words on it, they can no longer be read. Below this are damaged crossbones, skull, and sideways hourglass. The middle has the space for the inscription which reads:

Here lyes Cirsten
Biset spowse to
Robert Browhowse
Sailer who dyed
22th of May 1747 aged
49 years
Happy is the soul that lives on hie
Whil dust lyes resting here
Whose bless is all above the skie
Where nothing breeds us fear
She wants no power nor earthly thron
To raise hir figure here
Content and pleased to be unknown
Til Christ his lyfe appear

A wonderfully ornate gravestone for Cirsten Biset in Greyfriars Burial Ground, Perth, Scotland. The top has an ornate letter B inside a wreath flanked by two winged cherub heads. Below this two torches on columns flank either side. In the middle is a carving of a tall ship above a carving of two people holding a plaque that has a wreath and an anchor on it. They are surrounded by carvings of vibes. The people appear to be standing on a banner that has the letters DFO in the centre.

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Reposted by Anna Fairley Nielsson

@dianeechambers @dianeechambers.bsky.social · 2d

#31daysofgraves
Day 13 Skeleton
Painswick, Gloucestershire

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Reposted by Anna Fairley Nielsson

Yr Spooky Friend Camille @yrouttasight.bsky.social · 2d

#31daysofgraves Day 13: Skeleton

Nmjc, hbu?

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Anna Fairley Nielsson @annaandthedead.bsky.social · 2d

I’m going to make Paris a New Year’s resolution I think!

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Anna Fairley Nielsson @annaandthedead.bsky.social · 2d

😂

Anna Fairley Nielsson @annaandthedead.bsky.social · 2d

Although Britain didn't officially adopt the Gregorian calendar until 1752, the colonies pre-empted this, and many gravestones dating between January & March feature both years.

Anna Fairley Nielsson @annaandthedead.bsky.social · 2d

#31DaysOfGraves Day 13 - Skeleton: How could I resist this guy?! 💀 Commemorating Edward Davies d.1747/8 aged 70 years at Copp's Hill Burying Ground, #Boston. The double year is due to the shift from the Julian to Gregorian calendar.

Memento mori symbolism at the top of a gravestone. On the left is a winged hourglass, on the right is a skeleton with scythe, sitting astride a larger skull.

These symbols are at the top of a slate headstone with curved top.

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Anna Fairley Nielsson @annaandthedead.bsky.social · 3d

So delicate!

Anna Fairley Nielsson @annaandthedead.bsky.social · 3d

#31DaysOfGraves Day 12 - Notable woman: Marie Laveau "The Voodoo Queen" was a Louisiana Creole practitioner of Voodoo, an herbalist, and a midwife who was renowned in New Orleans [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Laveau]. She is believed to be buried in this tomb at St Louis Cemetery No.1.

A limewashed brick tomb in poor condition. It has many inscribed and painted X marks in the plaster, in accordance with a tradition that says doing so would allow Marie Laveau to grant a wish.

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Anna Fairley Nielsson @annaandthedead.bsky.social · 4d

Yeah! I’m interested to see that so many died from disease.

Anna Fairley Nielsson @annaandthedead.bsky.social · 4d

Regiment lost during service 4 Officers and 34 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 5 Officers and 142 Enlisted men by disease. Total 185.

www.civilwararchive.com/Unreghst/unc...

History - Connecticut Infantry (15th - 21st)

www.civilwararchive.com

Anna Fairley Nielsson @annaandthedead.bsky.social · 4d

I put my genealogist friend on the case and she’s found this info!

A screen shot showing that John Story was enlisted in 1862 in Connecticut

A screenshot showing that John story was a union solder and died in October 1864

A monument at the National Cemetery in New Bern, NC erected in honor of the men of Connecticut who died at Kinston and New Bern.
The text alongside reads:
Above: A small portion of the left side of this flag has been folded over so the viewer can see at least a small part of the reverse side. At some time during it's history, silk ribbons were sewn to the reverse side to strengthen the painted canton. The ribbons are now in a fragile condition.
As they left Washington, NC, Harland's Brigade, which included the 15* CVI, dismantled the fortifications and burned the government buildings. Angered by the capture of the 16" CVI, they were over zealous in destroying anything that could be used by Hoke.
During the late summer of 1864 the 15th fought yellow fever in New Bern. They were on provost guard duty during the worst of the epidemic and according to one report, they lost 47 men to the disease.
They helped with all kinds of jobs in the city, including burials. Finally, after two months, those who were still well were relieved of duty in the city. Many of the men of the 15 are still buried in the National Cemetery in New Bern.

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Anna Fairley Nielsson @annaandthedead.bsky.social · 4d

No, no marble. I was wondering if there were styles made in cheaper materials (here it would be sandstone) as well? But good point, perhaps they’re all coming from New England?

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Anna Fairley Nielsson @annaandthedead.bsky.social · 4d

So few catalogues survive here ☹️ but I’ll keep looking!