Grave Mistakes: May 2016

An alabaster tablet on the south nave wall in memory of Rev A B Lechmere which includes a scene rendered in graffito.

St Mary, Hanley Castle, Worcestershire

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The present church was founded in the 12th century using Roman bricks and Saxon stone in its construction, but the only remaining Norman feature is the south doorway. Extended soon after 1300, it retains 14th century nave windows and the north aisle. The original tower was damaged during the Civil War and was replaced by a massive brick tower with battlements in 1674, when the east end was rebuilt under the patronage of the Lechmere family of Severn End. They again rescued the church from decay in 1858 by funding a major restoration, including the installation of stained glass and Minton tiles. The tower contains a peal of six bells all originally cast by Abraham Rudhall of Gloucester in 1699; they were last recast and tuned in 1929.

An alabaster tablet on the south nave wall in memory of Rev A B Lechmere which includes a scene rendered in graffito.
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Where is the best place to see pictures of other unusual graves?

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The famous jockey John Burke died of a heart attack in 1995.

Our Lady and St Alphonsus, Hanley Swan, Worcestershire

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In 1846 the Hornyold family funded the building of a Catholic church in Hanley Swan. Our Lady and St Alphonsus, with adjoining presbytery, was built on land donated by Thomas Charles Hornyold and was paid for by his nephew John Vincent Gandolfi-Hornyold at a cost of £30,000 (£2m today). It was designed in the Gothic Revival style by the architect Charles Hansom, whose brother designed Birmingham Town Hall and also the Hansom cab. The furnishings, including a fine tiled floor made by Mintons, were by the architect and designer A W Pugin.

The famous jockey John Burke died of a heart attack at his home in Upton-upon-Severn on 8 February, 1995. He was 41. John Burke became in 1976 just the fifth jockey in history to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National in the same year, on Royal Frolic and Rag Trade respectively.
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The grave of the famous composer Sir Edward Elgar

St Wulstan Catholic Church, Little Malvern, Worcestershire

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Built in 1862, Saint Wulstan’s belongs to the Archdiocese of Birmingham and is run by the Benedictine monks of Downside Abbey.

Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet OM GCVO (2 June 1857 – 23 February 1934) was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestral works including the Enigma Variations and the Pomp and Circumstance Marches,.
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Can you recognise the, very common, spelling error?

Upton upon Severn Cemetery, Worcestershire.

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A general view.

Can you recognise the, very common, spelling error?
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Jim Bennett served with the Glider Pilot Regiment

Welland Cemetery, Welland, Worcestershire

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General view.

The Glider Pilot Regiment was a British airborne forces unit of the Second World War which was responsible for crewing the British Army's military gliders and saw action in the European Theatre of World War II in support of Allied airborne operations. Established in 1942, the regiment was disbanded in 1957.
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A husband and wife who died together.

St Edmund, Stoulton, Worcestershire

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The village comprises a number of houses, many dating from the 17th century. Taking pride of place in the village is a Norman Church dating back to 1120 dedicated to St. Edmund, King and Martyr.

A husband and wife who died together.
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A memorial to 4 murder victims

St Faith, Berrow, Worcestershire

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Saint Faith or "Saint Faith of Conques" is a saint who is said to have been a girl or young woman of Agen in Aquitaine. Her legend recounts how she was arrested during persecution of Christians by the Roman Empire and refused to make pagan sacrifices even under torture. Saint Faith was tortured to death with a red-hot brazier.

On the night of Saturday 6th or early morning of Sunday 7 May 1780 Edward Gummery, his wife Elizabeth and their daughter Anne, aged 9, and a visiting brother-in-law of Elizabeth's, Thomas Sheen, were murdered in their home in Berrow. The perpetrators were never found.
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A married couple and their two sons died on the same day in 1976.

St John the Baptist, Eldersfield, Worcestershire

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This 12th century Grade II listed church has seating for around 200 people. The Chancel arch is Norman and the north aisle and spire were added in the 14th century.

A married couple and their two sons died on the same day in 1976.
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George Fisher was an Inspector in the Kenya Police. He died of wounds received fighting the Mau Mau Terrorists.

Pendock (Old) Church, Pendock, Worcestershire

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Pendock Church is a redundant Anglican church standing to the southeast of the hamlet of Sledge Green in the parish of Pendock, Worcestershire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.

George Fisher was an Inspector in the Kenya Police. He died of wounds received fighting the Mau Mau Terrorists.
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The life-threatening wounds received by Lieut. Colonel William Herford were described in considerable detail!

St Nicholas, Queenhill, Worcestershire

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St Nicholas Church is on an isolated site alongside, but not visible from, the M50 Motorway. There is a Norman nave, 13th century chancel and 14th century west tower. The church is featured in Betjeman's Best British Churches.

The life-threatening wounds received by Lieut. Colonel William Herford were described in considerable detail!
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A dartboard showing a player scoring 180 points is an unusual feature of the gravestone.

St Peter, Bushley, Worcestershire

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The church was entirely rebuilt in 1843 by Canon Dowdeswell and consists of chancel, north and south transepts, nave and west tower and spire. The present chancel replaced a shallow original apse in 1857 and was designed by Sir Gilbert Scott. It is in the style of the 14th century and has a chapel on the south side opening to both chancel and transept. On the north the chapel is enclosed by an oak screen and on the west by one of iron supporting a rood with attendant figures.

A dartboard showing a player scoring 180 points is an unusual feature of the gravestone.
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The "fake scroll effect" is an unusual design feature.

St Mary, Ripple, Worcestershire

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The history of St Mary’s is somewhat shrouded in mystery. It was built sometime in the early 1190s possibly by the Lord of Ripple Manor and at some point in the 15th century gained 16 misericords - a complete set of 12 labours of the months, plus four others - it is worth noting that they bear a striking resemblance to the misericords at both Great Malvern Priory (with the exception of March, which in Ripple shows harrowing whilst at Great Malvern it shows sowing) and the misericords at Worcester Cathedral.

The "fake scroll effect" is an unusual design feature.

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No cheating - what is a Llanero?

St Nicholas, Earls Croome, Worcestershire

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St. Nicholas Anglican church in Earls Croome is Norman with some later additions. The neo-Norman west door is particularly fine.

No cheating - what is a Llanero?

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"Those who knew her miss her. Those who didn't missed a lot."

Cookhill Chapel, Cookhill, Worcestershire

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The main body of the church dates back to 1835 although there have been some later additions such as the schoolroom, vestry and World War I Memorial porch.

"Those who knew her miss her. Those who didn't missed a lot."
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William was an Entomologist and Master Bee Keeper.

St John the Baptist, Bradley Green, Worcestershire

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Built in the Decorated style, 1864/65, by W J Hopkins. A fairly plain church but its main feature is the west rose window. Designed by A J Davies and made by the Bromsgrove Guild. It was installed and dedicated in 1921 as a memorial to the 12 men of the village who died in the First World War. Each of the 12 main panels represents the regiment or part of the armed forces in which the men served.

William was an Entomologist and Master Bee Keeper.

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Ann Tombs died aged 103 having been a widow for over 71 years.

St Paul, Cookhill, Worcestershire

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In the early nineteenth century, the population of New End and Cookhill expanded rapidly as a result of the growth of the needle making industry at Astwood Bank. In March 1836, it was decided that a chapel of ease should be built in the Ridgeway area. However, the project lapsed and the church was eventually built forty years later on a site given by the Marquess of Hertford. The church was consecrated on 26th October 1876, at a service presided over by the Lord Bishop of Worcester.

Ann Tombs died aged 103 having been a widow for over 71 years.
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Keep up to date with all my grave-hunting news and discoveries via my daily postings to the Social History group. Just click on the grave to apply!

A unique design and a wonderful tribute to Edith.

Edgiock Cemetery, Worcestershire

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A general view.

A unique design and a wonderful tribute to Edith.
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Keep up to date with all my grave-hunting news and discoveries via my daily postings to the Social History group. Just click on the grave to apply!

"In the vault underneath are deposited the remains of ..."

St John the Baptist, Feckenham, Worcestershire

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The church still has traces of its Norman origins but the building has work from several later periods including the 13th century north arcade. It was much restored in the 19th century by William Butterfield who rebuilt the chancel in 1853 and by Henry Day who restored the nave in 1866.

"In the vault underneath are deposited the remains of ..."

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Keep up to date with all my grave-hunting news and discoveries via my daily postings to the Social History group. Just click on the grave to apply!

This war veteran took his own life

St Mary the Virgin, Hanbury, Worcestershire

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Once the site of an Iron Age Hill Fort and later the home of monks, the present building dates from 1210. It has evolved under the patronage of two important local families, the Bearcrofts of Mere Hall and the Vernons of Hanbury Hall.

Captain John Osborn Walford survived Passchendaele and Fromelle, fought in France and Italy, and was awarded the Military Cross and bar. An inspirational officer, he led his troops in a series of daring actions; he was shot and suffered shellshock. But bravery took a terrible toll. When he finally returned home, he was a troubled man, haunted by what he had seen. Captain Walford, shot himself dead on February 21, 1922.

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Keep up to date with all my grave-hunting news and discoveries via my daily postings to the Social History group. Just click on the grave to apply!

"It gets you right here, don't it."

St Mary Magdalene, Himbleton, Worcestershire

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Pevsner (2007) refers to Himbleton as one of the most worthwhile medieval churches in the area. Its origins are Norman, the porch is 12th century, and there is work from several later periods. A large amount of medieval stained glass survives, sensitively reset in later windows.

"It gets you right here, don't it."

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Keep up to date with all my grave-hunting news and discoveries via my daily postings to the Social History group. Just click on the grave to apply!

A most unusual war grave of a Chaplain

St Michael, Salwarpe, Worcestershire

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This is a lovely mediaeval church is set in a conservation area, close to the River Salwarpe and the canal. It is a surprisingly large church for such a small hamlet (no doubt due to its proximity to Salwarpe Court, which has connections to King Harold and Warwick the Kingmaker).

HMS Charybdis was a Dido-class cruiser of the Royal Navy. She served during the Second World War and was sunk with heavy loss of life by German torpedo boats in an action in the English Channel in October 1943.

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Keep up to date with all my grave-hunting news and discoveries via my daily postings to the Social History group. Just click on the grave to apply!

The inscription has an unusual feature - can you see it?

St Stephen, Redditch, Worcestershire

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In 1851 it was decided to demolish the Chapel on the Green and to build a more substantial parish church in Gothic style. From that date Chapel Green became known as Church Green, and the area was further improved by the planting of more trees. The new church was consecrated in July 1855.

The inscription on this elaborate box tomb has an unusual feature - can you see it?

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Keep up to date with all my grave-hunting news and discoveries via my daily postings to the Social History group. Just click on the grave to apply!