Norma Explores
@normaexplores.bsky.social
84 followers 110 following 69 posts
Slowly travelling the back roads of rural Britain finding stories from local history, folklore, people stories from our military past. (Posts by Rosie, Norma is a campervan and doesn't have opposable thumbs 🤳)
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normaexplores.bsky.social
The image was taken in 1978 by my grandfather and is part of a collection known as the Jeevar Archive which I am sharing online when I can. If youd like to learn more please visit the website ⬇️

www.normaexplores.com/jeevar-archive
JEEVAR ARCHIVE | Norma Explores
www.normaexplores.com
normaexplores.bsky.social
'In memory of Mary, wife of John Richards, who departed this life June ye 3rd 1771. Age 31.' The inscription goes on:
All you that stop to read this stone, consider how soon she was gone, death doth not always warning give, therefore be careful how ye live'

📍St Mary's, Doddington, Cambridgeshire ⬇️
normaexplores.bsky.social
Day 9 of #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'hand'.

I've borrowed an image from my side-quest, The Jeevar Archive, today.

The grave is that of Mary Richards. According to local legend she died at the altar, just moments after the wedding ring was placed on her hand as she was being married. 🧵⬇️
normaexplores.bsky.social
Day 8 of #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'Glass'

Here at St Nicholas' Church, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, the beautiful stained glass window is reflected in the memorial to a son of the town lost in the First World War.

Alfred Gordon Calthrop
2nd Lt 11th Bttn Royal Fusiliers. KIA near Ypres.
normaexplores.bsky.social
Dovecote
Barnack, Huntingdonshire

-

I dont know exactly where this was or if it is still standing... so if anyone local can enlighten me, I'd be most grateful!! It worldvgave been photographed between 1974 and 1978, I think!
normaexplores.bsky.social
Day 7 of #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'Angel'

I've actually chosen three, all from 📍 All Saints, St Ives, Cambridgeshire.

Ive added a close up of the last one, as he's less than angelic looking these days....
Reposted by Norma Explores
britwarmemorial.bsky.social
Burgh roll of honour. St. Botolph’s Church, Burgh, Suffolk. Second World War. #LestWeForget
Burgh roll of honour. Second World War.
normaexplores.bsky.social
Oh wow, thats so cool! and a great achievement 👏

Its amazing the fascinating people we meet in sleepy English churchyards! I was so surprised reading her story, when her grave is so humble. She had a fascinating life.
normaexplores.bsky.social
Her life partner Mary died in 1936 after years of ill health, while Constance lived to an incredible 107 years old, only passing away in 1981.

They are buried at St John the Baptist Church, Burley, Hampshire.
normaexplores.bsky.social
Born in Essex, she left for America to study at Harvard and it was here that she was responsible for introducing the sport of field hockey to her classmates. She went on to promote the sport across the country, eventually founding the American Field Hockey Association and the first US women's club ⬇️
normaexplores.bsky.social
Day 6 of #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'gender'

I've left East Anglia today to bring you the joint grave of 'great friends' Mary Warren Taylor and Constance Applebee.

The tablet to Constance is modest, but her contribution to women's sport certainly wasn't.

⬇️ Cont' below ⬇️
normaexplores.bsky.social
One from The Jeevar Archive (Find us on IG!)

St John the Baptist,
Little Maplestead, Essex • March 1985

Originally a chapel of the Knights Hospitallers. Built around 1340 and largely rebuilt in the mid 1800s.

Grade II* listed in 1962

GRID REF : TL 82248 33997
ringside.corrupted.stem
normaexplores.bsky.social
Sadly, she died at the scene just after her parents got to her.

She is buried at the 12th century round-towered church of St Mary in the village.
normaexplores.bsky.social
Brenda lived with her family at The Tank Range in Titchwell, a village along the north Norfolk coast.

She had gone to get ice cream with her brother from an van on the main road through the village. After getting her ice cream she ran around the back of the van, into the path of a passing car ⬇️
normaexplores.bsky.social
Day 5 of #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'bird'

I've chosen this beautiful simple this creatures. It sits atop a heart shaped headstone (📷⬇️) belonging to a little girl.

12 year old Brenda Walden was tragically killed on 29th July 1963. I will share her story below.

📍St Mary's Church, Titchwell
normaexplores.bsky.social
Day 4 of #31DaysOfGraves is 'languages', & I was reminded of these beautiful headstones in Duncombe Cemetery at Ferryhill, County Durham. I dont often photograph recent graves, but they stood out sitting side by side.

Unfortunately, I dont know anything about the lady and gentleman they belong to
Reposted by Norma Explores
chriswoodyard.bsky.social
#31daysofgraves 3 Tomb
Tomb of Dean Charles Fotherby [1549-1619], Canterbury Cathedral. "His monument is described as 'a bone-encrusted tomb-chest...a fine example of that obsessive early seventeenth-century morbidity which repelled later, more squeamish observers'."
#TheVictorianBookoftheDead
Stone tomb carved with skulls and bones topped with black slab Stone tomb of golden stone carved with skulls and bones, topped with a black stone slab
Reposted by Norma Explores
follywoodfae.bsky.social
Something more from Pentlow church... Its stunning font and cover. The is thought to be early 12th century, with the cover possibly 15th C.

It really is a church worth visiting if you're passing along the Suffolk/Essex border.
normaexplores.bsky.social
If youd like to learn a little more about my visit to Pentlow, please take a look at my substack post ⬇️

open.substack.com/pub/normaexp...
Pentlow // Essex
Some stories from the village churchyard.
open.substack.com
normaexplores.bsky.social
The tomb is situated in the Anglo-Saxon round-towered church of St Gregory and St George

📍Pentlow, Essex
normaexplores.bsky.social
There were 10 daughters and 4 sons!
normaexplores.bsky.social
Day 3 of #31DaysOfGraves is 'tomb'.

I've chosen to share the wonderful tomb of Judge George Kempe (1606), his son John (1609) and daughter-in-law Elinore (1609).

All three lay side by side on top of the tomb and a side panel depicts John and Elinore's 14 children.

Con't below ⬇️⬇️⬇️
normaexplores.bsky.social
I do not know his cause of death, but he was just 39 years old and its very possible he was a victim of the influenza pandemic.

He is buried with his wife Rosa, who passed in 1941 aged just 56.

📍St Edmund's Church,
Swanton Novers, Norfolk
normaexplores.bsky.social
Day 2 prompt for #31DaysOfGraves is 'nautical' and with so many sailors graves in my archive, I could have picked so many! Ive chosen one I visit often.

Please meet Royal Navy Chief Stoker, William Bennett of HMS Mallard.

After 21 years service he died at Chatham, Kent on Feb 14th 1919.

🧵⬇️⬇️