Cemetery Exploration: 2016

Thursday, 30 June 2016

St Mary, Fownhope, Herefordshire

Martin Nicholson's Cemetery Project

St Mary, Fownhope, Herefordshire

One of the longest churches in Herefordshire, stretching almost 120 feet in length, St Mary's is built around a 12th century central tower, with a 15th century shingled spire. The east end of the nave is also 12th century, with a south aisle added in the 13th century and an early 14th century chancel and south chapel.

Captain Lechmere died on his passage from Banares to Calcutta in 1881.

The son was born three days after his father died and they are both buried in the same grave.

We like memorials that include biographical information.

An "Artist, Florist and Friend".

Aged 102.

Cedric Thomas was a Blacksmith.

Raymond Meredith was a Farrier.

Aged 102.

Both these babies died aged 4 hours - what makes it even sadder was that they were brothers who died a year apart.

Claire Christine Nicholson and Martin Piers Nicholson - Ticklerton (Shropshire) and Daventry (Northamptonshire), United Kingdom.

This page was last updated on April 6th 2015.

Wednesday, 15 June 2016

St John the Baptist (Fawley Chapel), Fawley, Herefordshire

Martin Nicholson's Cemetery Project

St John the Baptist (Fawley Chapel), Fawley, Herefordshire

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The chapel of St. John the Baptist, on the banks of the river Wye, is an ancient building of stone, in the Early English style, consisting of chancel, nave and a turret on the north side containing one bell.

This amazingly ornate memorial is made of metal rather than stone and is totally unlike anything else in the churchyard.

This war grave is in such excellent condition that we assume that it is a modern replacement of an earlier one.

A simple but effective war memorial erected inside the church.

Claire Christine Nicholson and Martin Piers Nicholson - Ticklerton (Shropshire) and Daventry (Northhamptonshire), United Kingdom.

This page was last updated on July 31st 2015.

Tuesday, 14 June 2016

All Saints, Eyton, Herefordshire

Martin Nicholson's Cemetery Project

All Saints, Eyton, Herefordshire

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The church dates back to the 12th century. It was enlarged in the 14th century and heavily restored and extended in 1853.

Claire and I like memorials that tell the reader more about the deceased than is the usual practice.

"After a long and painful illness"

The messages on these two gravestones do not make very cheerful reading.

Martin Nicholson - Church Stretton, United Kingdom.

This page was last updated on August 8th 2013

Monday, 13 June 2016

St Peter and St Paul, Eye, Herefordshire

Martin Nicholson's Cemetery Project

St Peter and St Paul, Eye, Herefordshire

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Parts of the churchyard were a thick tangle of brambles and long grass. Some effort had been made to make the military graves accessible.

"Died 2 days after the birth of the 11th child"

"Died 8 days after the birth of the 9th child"

Walter Godwin was killed by a fallen tree when he was 45. His wife Helen lived to be 102.

We loved the ornate top to this gravestone.

Three sons of Lord and Lady Cawley died in the 1914-1918 war. Two were buried at Nery - 4 years apart.

Martin Nicholson - Daventry, United Kingdom.

This page was last updated on August 8th 2013.

St Michael and All Angels, Ewyas Harold, Herefordshire

Martin Nicholson's Cemetery Project

St Michael and All Angels, Ewyas Harold, Herefordshire

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St. Michael's is situated in the centre of the village. It dates from the 13th century, but this was not the earliest church in the village. The massive 13th century tower may have once been detached from the church and it is likely that it gave protection from raiders.

Recessed into the chancel wall is an effigy of a woman in early 14th century costume. Her unusual head dress shows she has taken a vow of chastity. She is reputed to be Clarissa Tregoz who died in 1270.

"Every egg a bird".

A Colonel married to a Dame.

John Williams was a Carpenter.

William and Annie Price lost one son at 8 weeks old and another son when aged 18 days.

Claire Christine Nicholson and Martin Piers Nicholson - Ticklerton (Shropshire) and Daventry (Northhamptonshire), United Kingdom.

This page was last updated on July 10th 2015.

Sunday, 12 June 2016

St Andrew, Evesbatch, Herefordshire

Martin Nicholson's Cemetery Project

St Andrew, Evesbatch, Herefordshire

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St.Andrew’s dates back to the 1300s, though it was extensively restored in 1877. The church is small, having seating for just 50 people. The East Window commemorates the Revd Richard Seddon, the rector who instigated the restoration of the church. The window is an early work of the famous Victorian stained glass designer C.E.Kemp.

Margaret Dobyns died in childbirth - her epitaph is well worth reading.

What is the significance of the two carved ladies both wearing old fashioned hats?

Martin Nicholson - Shropshire, United Kingdom.

This page was last updated on September 29th 2014.

Saturday, 11 June 2016

St Michael and All Angels, Eaton Bishop, Herefordshire

Martin Nicholson's Cemetery Project

St Michael and All Angels, Eaton Bishop, Herefordshire

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Although a building existed here before the Norman Conquest, construction of the tower and enlargement of the church took place post-conquest. A major restoration occurred in 1885 and the organ was installed in 1888. A rare feature is the almost complete carriage drive around the church. However, the most notable feature is the medieval stained glass of the East window considered by Nicolas Pevener to be “the finest decorated glass in the country…”.

The east window, with the wheatsheaf motif, showing that it was releaded by Kempe.

This magnificant gravestone is starting to delaminate and it is likely that the next generation of grave-hunters will not be able appreciate its former glory. Can you see a mis-spelling?

" ... accidentally burnt to death."

A lovely poem to remember a brother and sister who died less than six months apart.

Elizabeth Jones died aged 100 - in 1875!

Aged 100.

Claire Christine Nicholson and Martin Piers Nicholson - Ticklerton (Shropshire) and Daventry (Northamptonshire), United Kingdom.

This page was last updated on March 17th 2015.

Thursday, 9 June 2016

St John the Baptist, Eastnor, Herefordshire

Martin Nicholson's Cemetery Project

St John the Baptist, Eastnor, Herefordshire

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It is believed there has been a church building at Eastnor on the present site since the 12th Century, though it is possible that an earlier wooden Saxon church building would have existed somewhere in the area. There was certainly a Saxon church building at Ledbury, just over two miles away.

A marble monument to Mary Cocks who died in 1779. A seated woman set against drapery and with a putto at the right.

A brown and white marble monument to Joseph Cocks who died in 1778. A sarcophagus with a profile in a roundel and putti above.

A beautifully designed and highly colourful war memorial.

Elizabeth Cocks, died 1808.

A white marble recumbent effigy of the 3rd Earl Somers who died in 1883.

The first Earl Somers, died 1855. A freestone chest in trefoiled arcading all set in a depressed arched niche.

The east window in this Chapel is a reproduction of the early decorate east window in Edenbridge Church which was stated by Sir George in 1848 to be unique, being the only window in the world in which the arms of the Saviour could be stretched out on a cross without being cut through by stone tracery.

Kempe Windows