Benjamin Ballard's grave was covered over when the church was rebuilt.

 St Andrew, Church Aston, Shropshire
(Click on an image for a larger version)

 
This was a large well maintained site. It was a Bank Holiday and there were a number of other visitors paying their respects to people buried here.
 
 
Benjamin Ballard's grave was covered over when the church was rebuilt. 
 
Visited - May 2013

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We were sorry to see the bad grammar "who's" rather than "whose" on the memorial.

 St Andrew, Great Ness, Shropshire
(Click on an image for a larger version)


We thought that the fog would have lifted before we reached our first target for the day
 - we were wrong.
 
 
Kathleen Embrey worshipped in the church for over 50 years. We were sorry to see the bad grammar "who's" rather than "whose" on her memorial. 
 
Visited - March 2013

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Charles was washed overboard during a hurricane in the Indian Ocean.

St Menefreda, St Minver, Cornwall 
(Click on an image for a larger version)

 
Menefreda is thought to be the Latinised form of the Celtic Minver. The name change took place when the monks in Bodmin took over the church from the Celtic regime.
 
 
Charles Symons was washed overboard during a hurricane in the Indian Ocean.
 
 
Visited - June 2014

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Thomas Cocking died in the St Ives lifeboat tragedy of 1939.

 Barnoon Cemetery, St Ives, Cornwall
(Click on an image for a larger version)


We surveyed this cemetery in two visits - one before breakfast and one between breakfast and meeting up with family members at 10:30AM. What dedication!
 
 
Thomas Cocking was one of seven crewmen who died in the St Ives lifeboat tragedy of 1939. In the early hours of 23 January 1939 there was a Force 10 storm blowing with gusts up to 100 miles per hour (160 km/h). The lifeboat John and Sara Eliza Stych was launched at 3 o'clock to search for a ship reported in trouble off Cape Cornwall. It rounded The Island where it met the full force of the storm as it headed westwards. It capsized three times and drifted across St Ives Bay when its propeller was fouled. The first time it turned over four men were lost; the second time one more; the third time left only one man alive. He scrambled ashore when the boat was wrecked on rocks near Godrevy Point. 
 
Visited - June 2014

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The best 5 word epitaph ever!

 St Michael, Discoed, Powys, Wales
(Click on an image for a larger version)


Today the church remains a daughter church of St Andrew’s Church in Presteigne. Although it is in Wales, it is part of the Church of England’s Hereford diocese. The church is unusual in that the porch door is on the north side.
 
 
 "She taught children to read". 
 
Visited - June 2014

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Capt. T. Donaldson died when his horse fell on him.

 St Swithun, Cheswardine, Shropshire
(Click on an image for a larger version)


One part of the site the grass was long enough and the ground uneven enough to make surveying the graveyard rather dangerous.
 
 
Capt. T. Donaldson died when his horse fell on him.  
 
Visited - July 2013

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Harold Lowe was a survivor of the sinking of the Titanic.

 Parish Church of Llandrillo yn Rhos, Llandrillo, Conwy, Wales
(Click on an image for a larger version)


Llandrillo yn Rhos Church was built on the site of Ednyfed Fychan's private chapel and incorporates what was his tombstone. The history of this church goes back to the 13th century, but having been rebuilt over the centuries, the oldest parts of the present church are 15th century. A major restoration was carried out in 1857 and was criticised by some for amounting to 'vandalism', in particular the destruction of an ancient stained glass window.
 
 
 Commander Harold Godfrey Lowe (21 November 1882 – 12 May 1944) was the Fifth Officer of the RMS Titanic. After the ship began to sink after hitting an iceberg he took command of lifeboat number 14. Lowe's was one of only two boats to return for survivors, he picked up four men, one of whom died later that night.  
 
Visited - August 2014

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A policeman killed while pursuing a stolen car.

 St Menefreda, St Minver, Cornwall
(Click on an image for a larger version)


Menefreda is thought to be the Latinised form of the Celtic Minver. The name change took place when the monks in Bodmin took over the church from the Celtic regime.
 
 
 Police Constable Robert Benjamin Mercer died 26 May 1982, aged 20. He was fatally injured in a police car which crashed while pursuing a stolen car.  
 
Visited - June 2014

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Two brothers who both died at sea - in 1944 and 1959.

 St Gallgo, Llanallgo, Anglesey, Wales
(Click on an image for a larger version)


St Gallgo's Church, Llanallgo is a small church near the village of Llanallgo, on the east coast of Anglesey. The chancel and transepts, which are the oldest features of the present building, date from the late 15th century, but there has been a church on the site since the 6th or early 7th century, making it one of the oldest Christian sites in Anglesey.
 
 
 
Dalegarth Force had been sailing from the Tyne with a cargo of coal for Poole when she came under fire from German shore batteries and was hit by a shell 1 mile south of Dover and set on fire. The ship was taken into Dover, sailing under tow on the 5th August 1944, arriving for repairs on the Tyne three days later. 3 sailors died.
 
The Palm Line was a British-owned shipping line that was engaged in the West African trade from 1949, primarily servicing the ports along 5,000 miles of coastline from Morocco in the north to Angola in the far south. They ceased trading in 1986. 
 
Visited - August 2014

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Three died in the shipwreck of the Maria Asumpta in 1995

 St Enodoc, near Trebetherick, Cornwall
(Click on an image for a larger version)


St Enodoc Church, Trebetherick is a chapel of ease in the parish of St Minver. Wind-driven sand has formed banks that are almost level with the roof on two sides. From the 16th century to the middle of the 19th century, the church was virtually buried by the dunes and was known locally as "Sinking Neddy".
 
 
The Maria Asumpta was on her first voyage after a refit at Gloucester. On the afternoon of 30 May 1995 she was preparing to enter Padstow harbour. The captain, Mark Litchfield, decided to take her between The Mouls and Pentire Point, which was not a route recommended by the Admiralty. The engines suddenly stopped; two men were sent to attend to the engine whilst the rest of the crew of fourteen raised more sail. Although lookouts had been posted at the bow, they failed to spot submerged rocks and about five minutes after the engines stopped, the Maria Asumpta struck rocks at Rump Point. The crew abandoned ship, and many of them jumped onto the rocks, but three crew were drowned. The tragedy was witnessed by many sightseers who had come to watch the Maria Asumpta's arrival.  
 
Visited - June 2014

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The elaborate aedicular monument to Henry Spoure (1688)

 St Torney, North Hill, Cornwall
(Click on an image for a larger version)


We arrived at the church just as a service was ending. We were pleased to see that the churchyard had been well maintained.
 
 
The elaborate aedicular monument to Henry Spoure who died in 1688. Edmund Spoure and his wife are kneeling in prayer and in mourning for their only son. Above them is Henry looking down at them and his sister Mary looking heavenwards. Henry is holding a closed book while that of Mary is open.  
 
Visited - June 2014

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Who was the anonymous "friend" who loved her?

St Nicholas, Norton Canon, Herefordshire 
(Click on an image for a larger version)


Very little remains of the old church, except for the 13th century tower which has 5 bells but the stone piscina kept in the vestry indicates an even earlier foundation. The nave, chancel and porch were re-built in 1706 and further restoration took place in 1868-1869.
 
 
There must be a sad story behind the inscription on this stone - who was the anonymous "friend" who loved her? 
 
Visited - August 2014

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A nurse who died in her own hospital, aged 25.

 St Philip and St James, Hallow, Worcestershire
(Click on an image for a larger version)


A large church with a particularly tall and impressive spire.
 
 
 Orthopaidic looks like a spelling mistake but Orthopaidic War Hospital is the correct title. 
  V. A. D. stands for Voluntary Aid Detachment.
 
 
 Aged 104. Edith was the sister of Alice Stallard who was the subject
 of the memorial shown above.

 Visited - February 2011

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John and Bridget lost 7 children and grandchildren in infancy

Barnsley Cemetery, Barnsley, South Yorkshire
(Click on an image for a larger version)


John and Bridget Levins lost four children in their infancy and their married daughter Teresa died aged 20. None of Teresa's three children survived to see their fourth birthday.
 
 
 
Visited - August 2014

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A large and poignant war-time statue in the graveyard.

 St Mary the Virgin, Dilwyn, Herefordshire
(Click on an image for a larger version)


We had our lunch sitting on the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee bench thoughtfully provided in the churchyard.
 
 
 A large and impressive war memorial made even more poignant by the brief mention of Albert Joseph Watkins, Boy First Class, who was drowned aged 18 when in September 1939 the Aircraft Carrier "Courageous" was sunk by U29.

 
Visited - July 2014

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This is the most crudely repaired gravestone we have seen.

 All Saints, Lubenham, Leicestershire
(Click on an image for a larger version)


The church has had all sorts of additions built on over the years.
 
 
 This is the most crudely repaired gravestone we have seen.
 
Visited - July 2010

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What a lovely epitaph!

 St Mary the Virgin, Eardisland, Herefordshire
(Click on an image for a larger version)


A place of worship has probably stood on the site of the present church since Saxon times. Of the present building the Nave was built in the 12th Century (probably being the total extent of the Church at that time) and the Chancel, Vestry and South Porch were added in the 14th Century. The original Tower (of probable 15th Century origin) collapsed in 1728 and was replaced by the present one in 1760. We enjoyed the superb display of photographs of other Herefordshire churches inside the building.
 
 
 I think this is one of the finest epitaphs I have seen during our survey work. 
 
Visited - July 2014

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In Childbed's agonizeing (sic) pains she yielded up her soul

 St Stephen, Old Radnor, Powys, Wales


The parish church of Old Radnor is dedicated to St Stephen to whom there is no other authentic Welsh dedication. It was a popular Norman dedication, however, and it is likely that when the Normans came to Old Radnor they found a church already in existence here, dedicated to the Welsh saint Ystyffan, whom they mistakenly understood to be St Stephen, the first Christian martyr. 


"In Childbed's agonizeing (sic) pains she yielded up her soul ...."

  
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Two brothers who were both killed on active service.

 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.
 
 
 Two brothers who were both killed on active service. Thomas Reginald Davies died when the Conqueror II, a hired yacht, was torpedoed by U52. 
 
Visited - March 2011

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Four of the five Keeling family children died before their first birthday

Market Drayton Cemetery, Market Drayton, Shropshire

(Click on an image for a larger version)





A medium sized gem with lots of interesting finds and some curious features such as the twin chapel with a central arch that "by order" should only be approached by a hearse driven in reverse gear.


Four of the five Keeling family children died before their first birthday. 
 
Visited - March 2011

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How many mistakes can you find on this memorial?

All Saints, Norbury, Shropshire 
(Click on an image for a larger version)


The most memorable features of All Saints were the 2000 year old yew tree in the churchyard and the unusual shaped church spire.



How many mistakes can you find on this memorial?
 
My favourite is the re-engraved name Elizabdeth. 
 
Visited - April 2011

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26 children between 7 and 17 killed in a coal mine

 All Saints, Silkstone, South Yorkshire
(Click on an image for a larger version)

 
There may have been a church on this site in Saxon times, but the current perpendicular style building was originally constructed in the 12th century. The building was remodelled in 1495, and the chancel was rebuilt in 1852–1858.
 
 
One of the most notable events in the history of the village was the Huskar Pit Disaster, which occurred on 4 July 1838 when a freak storm flooded part of the mine, killing 26 children, the youngest was 7 years, the oldest 17.
 
 
 
Visited - July 2014

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Killed on the way to a wedding.

 St John, Penistone, South Yorkshire
(Click on an image for a larger version)


Although most of the present building was built in the 1300s, there are foundations of an earlier church from the 10th century. There are large numbers of horizontal gravestones from the Victorian era in the churchyard that remain very readable.
 
 
Charles Fretwell lost his life at Oxspring Station when he jumped onto a moving train on his way to a wedding. 
 
Visited - July 2014

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