On of the frustrating things in visiting many graveyards is the fact that in many cases the lettering on the gravestones is no longer readable. This is particularly noticeable on sandstone gravestones, where the edges of the stone are still crisp, the sculptural parts may still be in reasonable shape, but there has been selective erosion of the lettering. The problem is that the stones tend to develop a hard surface but are subject to erosion where water can collect. The moisture - particularly freezing conditions - weakens the bond between the fine sand grains, which lets in more moisture and the matter gets worse. The effects can clearly be seen in the above stones from about 1870 in the graveyard of St Albans Abbey.
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In affectionate rememberance of
WILLIAM
COWLEY WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE AUGUST xxxxxxxxx AGED xx YEARS ALSO MARY BULL xxxxx OF THE ABOVE xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx years ALSO OF ROSE BULL DAUGHTER OF WILLIAM COWLEY BULL WHO DIED JANUARY 15TH 1870 AGED 1 YEAR AND 10 MONTHS SHE GENTLY SLEEPS IN JESUS |
In this case water trickling down from the ornamental cross has weakened the surface, and destroyed lettering, in a triangular area. The inscription at the bottom has survived in reasonably good condition. The burial register shows that Mary Bull, William's mother, was buried on 8th February, 1869, aged 76. Rose Bull was buried on 21 January 1870, and William Cowley Bull was buried on 31 August 1871, aged 41. |
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SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF ELIZABETH HORTON THE BELOVED WIFE OF ELIJAH HORTON WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Jesus xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Life xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxWife xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx |
Elizabeth Horton was buried on 10th February 1869, aged 39. In this case moisture has got behind the hard surface. which is beginning to crack, for instance below the "S" of "Sacred". The surface will later flake away. I have not been able to reconstruct the four line poem - but if it was a standard quotation someone might be able to "guess" what it said. |
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In Memory of JOHN KENT WHO DIED xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
JK 1869 |
I N AFFECTIONATE REMEMBERANCE OF ESTHER, WIFE OF JOSEPH HUMPHREY WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 1870 AGED xx YEARS "THERE SHALL BE NO MORE PAIN: FOR THE FORMER THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY" |
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The best fit is John Kent, who was buried on 19th March 1869, aged 81.
Without the footstone it would be impossible to identify this one. |
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