Over the centuries they have ranged from simple deep cut Roman fonts (on the right) to Victorian Gothic styles (right of centre at the rear). A wide range like this can be seen in many churchyards today, the above examples all coming from Leek, Staffs. Locked up in the text upon gravestones and tombs is more than just the name and date of passing of the incumbent. Information can be found like the deceased’s ambitions, names of relatives and attitude towards life. There may also be details like profession or cause of death and age, indicating what social conditions and life expectancy were like in the region at that time. Some gravestones were used by generations of the same family, simply listing the deceased and the date of passing, others had a single memorial typically in the 18th and early 19th century with the details of death in the centre and a poetic epitaph below. These short pieces of prose often contain further information, especially with regard to the nature of death and expectation of the afterlife.
What do You think about Gravestones, Tombs & Memorials (2012)?
