Churchyards, Gravestones & Their Hidden Meanings. A talk by Louise Wade

I’m a taphophile, are you?  That was the question asked by Louise and whilst most of us had no idea, by the end of the talk we could all admit that maybe we were.  Taphophile: an individual who has an (abnormal) passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries!

Long barrows were the starting point for what we now consider to be a grave whilst later designs say a great deal about the wealth of the deceased and how they wished to be remembered.  From simple grave markers of stone or wood, through ledger stones, table tombs, Gothic Revival to marble chest tombs in cathedrals, the choice is yours (if you decide before you go)!

Symbolism is often in plain sight but unrecognised by many of us today.  A broken column is a life cut short, angels with their wings spread represent the journey to heaven whilst iron railings around the grave have a more prosaic meaning; they were to deter grave robbers!

Not all graves are genuine, a ledger grave for Ebenezer Scrooge was used for the making of a film of A Christmas Carol and left in situ whe the film crew had moved on.

A fascinating insight into something we are so aware of but rarely pay attention to.  Thanks Louise.