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Reposted by Karen

Emma Mitchell @silverpebble2.bsky.social · 4h

Autumnal collection, including little owl feather, seedheads & various lovely things that fell off trees.
Zoom in to the details if you’re feeling stressed-the patterns in nature have been shown to help our brains relax🪶:

A collection of seedheads, acorns, sycamore keys, dried flowers, lichen, a little owl feather & a piece of Baltic amber on a white watercolour paper background

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Reposted by Karen

hookland.bsky.social @hookland.bsky.social · 18h

No wraith way, no corpse lane is ever less than ghost-crowded. Yet just as roads to market or the races are thronged on certain days, as we approach Allhallowtide they become congested by spirits. From distant villages to the boneyard gates and lychgate termini a rush of spectres walk. – #CLNolan

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 23h

Day 14 of #31daysofgraves - inside. There are three headstones hidden away inside the backyard of Pickford House Museum in Derby. This one belongs to Alpheus Robotham who died aged 21 in 1830.

A headstone standing against a wall, surrounded by ivy. The inscription reads:

Sacred to the memory of
Alpheus Robotham
who departed this life
the 26th June 1830
Aged 21 years

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Reposted by Karen

Lorraine Evans @thedeathhistorian.bsky.social · 2d

Day 13: Skeleton #31daysofgraves Encompassing more Memento Mori then you can shake a stick at, I give you one of my all time favourite seventeenth century wall memorials, in a glorious pink hue, to be found in Kirkmichael Burial Ground, Resolis, Black Isle, commemorating one William Urquhart...💀

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 2d

Day 13 of #31daysofgraves - skeleton. Here’s a view of the wall that divides the churchyard from the cemetery, taken in 2019. Many of the bones in both places share DNA with my own, and I always feel connected to my ancestors when I’m up here.

A photograph taken in Codnor cemetery, close to the wall that divides the cemetery from the churchyard. The wall runs through the centre of the picture, rising slightly diagonally to the right. On the left, in front of the wall, is a Victorian gravestone which is leaning forward slightly. Beyond the wall is Codnor church with a large yew tree standing in front of it. The ground in front of the wall is covered with ivy and fallen leaves.

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 2d

I just tried typing in the word “epitaphs” - lots of interesting reading there too.

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 2d

2/2 As she unveiled it, Mrs F. C. Corfield said “I dare say that many of us would like to have been in London today and seen the Queen, but as we cannot all be there we must do our best to make this a very happy day here…”

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 2d

Day 12 of #31daysofgraves - notable woman. Not actually a grave, but this tablet was erected in Codnor cemetery to mark Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897. There was also what the local paper called “a very enthusiastic gathering” in the village. 1/2

The inscription on the tablet reads:

This tablet was erected there to
22nd June 1897
in commemoration of the
Diamond Jubilee
of her most gracious Majesty
Queen Victoria
and to mark the Queen’s Jubilee Oak
planted in 1887

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Reposted by Karen

Simon Knott @simoninsuffolk.bsky.social · 3d

Edith Cavell, English nurse, was shot dead by a German firing squad #OTD 12 October 1915. Her death was a cause of national outrage and mourning. After the War, her body was returned home to England and buried in the cathedral close at Norwich.

#31DaysofGraves 12: notable woman

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 3d

He returned to Codnor and became the village postmaster. He died aged 29 from complications related to his injuries in 1921. He was buried with full military honours. His coffin was draped with the Union Jack and his cap and badge were placed on top. His parents are buried beside him.

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 3d

Day 11 of #31daysofgraves - military. This is the grave of Sydney Alfred Severn. He was a teacher before the Great War broke out and then enlisted in the Machine Gun Corps. Unfortunately he lost his leg in a motorcycle accident during training which ended a promising career in the army. 1/2

A white marble gravestone with a 3-tier base, topped with a cross. The inscription reads:

In every loving memory of
Sydney Alfred Severn
Late Serg Maj M.M.G.
Born July 17th 1891
Died June 19th 1921

Who plucked the flower, the Master,
The gardener wept and was silent.

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Reposted by Karen

Friends of Toowong Cemetery @fotc.au · 4d

I found many monument catalogues on archive.org. I used search terms like:
- monuments -- catalogs
- tombstones -- catalogs
- sepluchral monuments

I recognised many designs in these:

- archive.org/details/CoxS...
- archive.org/details/exce...

Sadly but no design for our #31DaysOfGraves flowers.

Excelsior statuary book. : Cook & Watkins. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

archive.org

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Reposted by Karen

Chris Woodyard @chriswoodyard.bsky.social · 4d

#PhantomsFriday
The Phantom Guests, Georgie Hobson
www.sworder.co.uk/auction/lot/...

Dark sepia painting of phantoms in 18th century clothes descending a staircase.

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 4d

Day 10 of #31daysofgraves - urn. Two different types of urn here. In the foreground is the grave of Samuel and Sarah Ann Allen, who died in 1904 and 1934, respectively. The other marks the grave of Samuel Cooper who died in 1912, his wife Sophia who died in 1907, and their son John who died in 1899.

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 5d

The newspaper article about their Diamond Wedding anniversary mentions that they have 7 surviving children, 44 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 5d

Day 9 of #31daysofgraves - hand. These two clasped hands are featured on the grave of Isaac and Jemima Severn, who celebrated their Diamond Wedding in 1913. This symbol denotes an eternal union, or a husband and wife being reunited in death. They died almost exactly a year apart.

Close-up view of the top part of the headstone marking the grave of Isaac and Jemima Severn. It shows a relief carving of two clasped hands; the one on the left has a feminine lacy cuff while the other has a man’s shirt cuff.

A wider shot of Isaac and Jemima’s grave, showing the headstone partly covered with trailing ivy. The inscription reads:

In loving memory of
Isaac Severn
Who died Sep 10th 1915
Aged 85 years
Also
Jemima
Wife of the above
Who died Sep 7th 1916
Aged 83 years

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 6d

Day 8 of #31daysofgraves - glass. George Woolley and his wife Rebecca were members of one of Codnor’s most prominent families. As well as having this impressive monument in the cemetery, there is a stained glass window dedicated to them in the church.

A large pier-style grave monument decorated with classical-style columns at each corner and a relief carving of ivy in a semicircle at the bottom. The inscription on this side reads:

In loving memory of
Rebecca Woolley
The beloved wife of
George Woolley
of Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Notts
Who died July 2nd 1908
Aged 75 years

I know that my Redeemer liveth

The inscription on this panel reads:

In loving memory of
George Woolley
of Kirkby Parks,
Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Notts
And formerly of Codnor
who died September 1st 1910
Aged 79 years

I heard the voice of Jesus say come unto me and rest

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 8d

Day 7 of #31daysofgraves - angel. This beautiful 18th-century slate headstone is in the churchyard at Denby, Derbyshire. It marks the grave of Jane Brentnall, aged 22. Several generations of the Brentnall family are buried alongside each other. (Inscription in alt text). #taphophile #cemetery

A close up view of a slate headstone dating from the 18th century. At the top is a relief carving of an angel peering over its wings.

Here
rest in hopes of a Blessed
Immortality
The Remains of Jane
Daughter of
Benjamin and Ann Brentnall
of Locko Grange
She departed this life
January 19th 1789
Aged XXII years

(Aged 22 years)

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 8d

It reminds me of the episode of Ghosts (the original British version) where Thomas is trying to write a eulogy for Mary and Alison tells him “Thomas, I think you might have made it all about you…”

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 9d

I forgot to include the last part of the inscription in the alt text:

How quickly I sank neath the shadows of death
And eternity round me arose
O, reader, remember that life is a breath
And a breath may bring thine to a close

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 9d

Day 6 of #31daysofgraves - gender. Looking at this stone from a distance you’d be forgiven for thinking it marked the grave of Thomas Slack, but it actually belongs to his wife Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s name is inscribed in a small standard font whereas Thomas’s is in a large ornate script.

A slate headstone, close to the wall of Codnor church which has the following inscription:

In memory of
Elizabeth, wife of
Thomas Slack
of Codnor
who departed this life
November VIII MDCCCXLIX
Aged XXVIII years

(The Roman numerals translate as November 8th, 1849, aged 28 years)

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 9d

Day 5 of #31daysofgraves - bird. A throwback to 2019 when I accidentally took a 3-second video instead of a photo of this robin perched on the beautiful Edwardian headstone belonging to Eliza and John Greensmith. (I had to post a screenshot because the video wouldn’t upload 🤷‍♀️)

A robin perched on top of a headstone in Crosshill Cemetery, Codnor. The stone stands in a large area of grass with leaves scattered around it.

A closer view of the same headstone. It is decorated with relief carvings of flowers and ivy, and had the following inscription:

In Remembrance of
Eliza
The beloved wife of
John Greensmith
who died July 5 1912
aged 64 years
Also of
John Greensmith
Died Jany 18th 1941
aged 81 years
Re-united

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 11d

Inscription in alt text

Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 11d

Day 4 of #31daysofgraves - language. I will never tire of reading gravestones and I’m fascinated by the language we use to express love, remembrance and honour for our dead. The epitaph on Elizabeth Buckley’s grave is utterly heartbreaking. She was married to coal miner Abraham and had 5 children.

A slate headstone standing in Codnor churchyard. The inscription reads:
In Affectionate Remembrance of
Elizabeth Buckley
who died Sept 14th 1871
aged 34 years

Farewell dear husband, my life is past
My love was true while life did last
Pray for me, no sorrow make,
Love my children for my sake.

A tender wife, a loving mother,
It is hard to find out such another,
In love she lived, in peace she died,
She longed to live but God denied.

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 12d

Day 3 of #31daysofgraves - tomb. This ornate box tomb marks the grave of Elizabeth Starbuck who died in 1860. She was married to farmer Thomas Starbuck whose sister Ann married into the prominent Codnor family the Woolleys.

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