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| ? Aged 71 Years |
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| Mary ? |
Taphophilia is a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries. The singular term is a taphophile.
Two weather worn and eroded gravestones found at St James the Less, Stubbings, Burchetts Green and St Luke's Churchyard, Maidenhead, Berkshire.
The only information that can be gleaned from these stones is, 'Aged 71 Years' and 'Mary'.
An all too common sight in Britain's churchyards and cemeteries. The poorer classes were not able to afford the marble and granite markers of their rich counterparts. Having to make do with softer local stone or Limestone. Sadly decades and even centuries of wind and rain has stripped them of their identities and thrown them into worn obscurity.
The only information that can be gleaned from these stones is, 'Aged 71 Years' and 'Mary'.
An all too common sight in Britain's churchyards and cemeteries. The poorer classes were not able to afford the marble and granite markers of their rich counterparts. Having to make do with softer local stone or Limestone. Sadly decades and even centuries of wind and rain has stripped them of their identities and thrown them into worn obscurity.
It was probably very important to the family to have a stone marking the gravesite and seems so sad that it would not last. then again, possible there is no family left who is around to visit.
ReplyDeleteThey look to be quite elaborate stones originally. More questions than answers here though! Atmospheric shots.
ReplyDeleteWorn, yes, but still quite beautiful. Of course, intact stones don't guarantee they won't be forgotten either.
ReplyDeleteThat second one looks like there is a huge gouge in it. I hope it was not deliberate....
ReplyDeleteLove the neo-gothic crosses at the top of the grave stones. The many styles of crosses could be a study unto itself.
ReplyDeleteYour treatment of the photos makes it very atmospheric. I suppose even the granite graves will loose their inscriptions eventually.
ReplyDeleteThese graves do look a bit worn and weathered. But I find them beautiful!
ReplyDeletewhen there is so little information I want to know even more who they were and what happened.... Beautiful photos, love the processing.
ReplyDeleteoooh, i never thought about that.... that indeed cheaper material weathers the stone more...
ReplyDeletestill very ornamental stones!
Beautifully processed, Nicola. Great job.
ReplyDeleteI have not seen anything as weathered over here, but our seasons are much more seamless than yours. Mostly, our headstones crack and break off, or simply fall over. Given, however, the inscriptions become hard to read with time.
What is interesting here too, is that it is the great bulk of the stone that is weathering, not the smaller parts of stone fashioned into the cross. I wonder if that is not so much stone as a man-made conglomerate.
However, there is still a person beneath, and we pay our respects nevertheless, by pausing and looking and by a gentle touch on the decaying furnture.