The mason had problems with the spelling of the name Harriet

 
St Mary Magdalene, Bridgnorth, Shropshire
(Click on an image for a larger version)
 
 
Thomas Telford was the architect of this hideous church which was built in 1792.
 
 
The mason had problems with the spelling of the name Harriet which then
caused problems further along the line of text.
 
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"The son he never knew"

 
Norton in Hales Cemetery, Shropshire
(Click on an image for a larger version)
 
 
The chapel was consecrated in 1865 but it is now boarded up
with serious cracks in the walls.
 
 
 
"The son he never knew" - this is the first time we have come across this form of words. Perhaps Colin was not born until after his father's death?
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This is why you have to read old stones very carefully!

 
All Saints , Broseley, Shropshire
(Click on an image for a larger version)
 
 
Although the church was close to the town cemetery it was not adjacent and the
gated path between the two would make carrying a coffin from the church
to the cemetery rather difficult.
 
 
Older graves have more character - and more mistakes. You need to read
all the left hand side before the right hand side. If you do you see that
"Likewife" is really "Likewise" and suddenly the stone makes more sense!
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Two unusual designs in the same cemetery

 
Broseley Cemetery, Broseley, Shropshire
(Click on an image for a larger version)
 
 
This was the first time that we have been forced to abandon a visit due to rain. It got so wet that we went home and returned two days later to complete the survey.
 
 
A memorial in the form of a mosaic. This must have been a very time consuming to make given the small size of each tesserae.
 
 
 
An unusual but highly effective design.
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Killed whilst carrying out terminal velocity dives

 
The New Cemetery, Church Stretton, Shropshire
(Click on an image for a larger version)
 
 
This picture doesn't really show quite how steep this site is -
nor the loud noise from the nearby A49.
 

Gilbert Vernon Wheatley was killed whilst carrying out terminal velocity dives in Gloster Gamecock fighter J. 7891
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The deceased died of blackwater fever, a complication of malaria.

 
Cunnery Road Cemetery, Church Stretton, Shropshire
(Click on an image for a larger version)
 
 
Cunnery Road Cemetery has an attractive and helpful noticeboard at the entrance with the most interesting graves clearly identified. Well done to whoever organised this.
 

The deceased died of blackwater fever which is a complication of malaria.
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A memorial is in the shape of a glass of beer!

 
Oswestry Cemetery, Oswestry, Shropshire
(Click on an image for a larger version)
 
 
It took us a total of 6 man-hours to survey this cemetery on a lovely sunny day. We found 7 ladies who died aged 100 or older but not a single man who had reached this landmark. Many of the military graves had been maintained to a very high standard but just a few in one corner of the site seem to have been overlooked.
 
 
This memorial is in the shape of a glass of beer (Guinness?) and Claire and I both
thought it was a clever idea that had been well executed.
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What is a "twice wife"?

 
St Walburga, Plowden, Shropshire
(Click on an image for a larger version)
 
 
The Catholic church at Plowden was built by the Plowden family and many
members of the family are buried there.
 
 
"Twice wife" is not a phrase we have seen before. Does it mean Sally was his second wife following the death of his first wife?
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Killed while riding his horse in a military steeplechase in 1905

 
St Laurence, Ludlow, Shropshire
(Click on an image for a larger version)
 
 
The Parish Church of Ludlow dedicated to St Laurence is one of the
largest parish churches in the country.
 

Captain Edward Gelly Meyricke was killed while riding his horse
in a military steeplechase in 1905
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The heart of the Prince of Wales was buried here

 
St Laurence, Ludlow, Shropshire
(Click on an image for a larger version)
 
 
The Parish Church of Ludlow dedicated to St Laurence is one of the
largest parish churches in the country.
 
 
Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales (19/20 September 1486 – 2 April 1502) was the first son of King Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York. He died before his father.
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A large skull and crossbones on an ancient grave.

 
St Michael the Archangel, Llanyblodwel, Shropshire
(Click on an image for a larger version)
 
 
A real gem of a church - but one we had never heard of until we visited
it as part of our cemetery survey.
 
 
There was a book on the history of this amazing site on sale in the church but it makes no mention of the skull and crossbones on one of the graves. "Memento mori" (Latin for 'remember that you will die') is a symbolic reminder of the inevitability of death.
 
 
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This is one of my all-time favourite memorials.

 
Holy Trinity, Lydham, Shropshire
(Click on an image for a larger version)
 
 
We both liked the very neat topiary in the churchyard.
 
 
This is one of my all-time favourite memorials. The spelling "ded" for dead, the arrangement of the letters in words such as George and the way a missing word has had to be inserted combine together to make this a wonderful find.
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Edward, son of Thomas and Mary Wiggin, was "shot by a villain" in 1812.

 
St Mary the Virgin, Alveley, Shropshire
(Click on an image for a larger version)
 
 
Unusually the churchyard was in three tiers but the visit was made
more memorable for the handsome fox that Claire disturbed!
 

Edward, son of Thomas and Mary Wiggin, was "shot by a villain" in 1812.

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Andy was, like me, a fan of the group Pink Floyd.

 
Burton Latimer Cemetery, Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire.
(Click on an image for a larger version) 
 
 
This cemetery looked quite small from the entrance but stretched further back than was obvious at first sight.
 
 
Andy Bryan was, like me, a fan of the group Pink Floyd.
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There must be an interesting "back story" here!

 
St George, Orleton, Herefordshire
(Click on an image for a larger version)
 
 
The churchyard seemed surprisingly large for the size of the church.
 

There must be an interesting story behind the decision of
this lady to revert to her maiden name.
 

 
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Baby John Yates' mother appears to have died in childbirth.

 
Leominster Priory Church, Leominster, Herefordshire
(Click on an image for a larger version)
 
 
The last ducking stool to be used in England can be seen inside the church.
 
 
Baby John Yates' mother appears to have died in childbirth.
John then died six weeks and two days later.
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The plaque commemorating the "extraordinary flood" of 16th May 1709.

 
Sherborne Abbey, Sherborne, Dorset
(Click on an image for a larger version)
 
 
It was a grey and drizzly day when we visted Sherborne Abbey with
Claire's two sisters and their husbands.
 

 The plaque commemorating the "extraordinary flood" of 16th May 1709.
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World class memorials in Sherborne, Dorset.

 
Sherborne Abbey, Sherborne, Dorset
(Click on an image for a larger version)
 
 
It was a grey and drizzly day when we visted Sherborne Abbey with
Claire's two sisters and their husbands.
 
 
The magnificent marble baroque memorial to John Digby, 3rd Earl of Bristol (died 1698) and his two wives.
 
 
The Lewiston Memorial - John Lewiston sat eight times as the Member of Parliament for Melcombe Regis. He also served as Captain of the Isle and Captain of the Castle of Portland. His wife Joan died in 1579 and he died in 1584.
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Pemberton Methuen died of scarlet fever when at the King's School.

 
Sherborne Abbey, Sherborne, Dorset
(Click on an image for a larger version)
 
 
It was a grey and drizzly day when we visted Sherborne Abbey with
Claire's two sisters and their husbands.
 
 
Pemberton Methuen died of scarlet fever when at the King's School. This was a particularly difficult memorial to photograph - this is the best of three attempts.
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Eustace was drowned in the wreck of the S. S. Aden

All Saints, Pitsford, Northamptonshire
(Click on an image for a larger version)
 
 
A warm sunny day - perfect for grave hunting!
 

Eustace was drowned in the wreck of the P. & O.
vessel S. S. Aden in 1897.
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A mourning angel knelt in prayer.

All Saints, Pitsford, Northamptonshire
(Click on an image for a larger version)
 
 
A warm sunny day - perfect for grave hunting!
 
.
This was a particularly ornate (and expensive) memorial
showing a mourning angel knelt in prayer.
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Joseph dropped dead in the rectory garden.

 
St Michael, Haselbech, Northamptonshire
(Click on an image for a larger version)
 

We discovered this church by accident when driving between two other survey sites.


 
Joseph dropped dead in the rectory garden.
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