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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 1m

The newspaper article about their Diamond Wedding anniversary mentions that they have 7 surviving children, 44 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 20m

Day 9 of #31daysofgraves - hand. These two clasped hands are featured on the grave of Isaac and Jemima Severn, who celebrated their Diamond Wedding in 1913. This symbol denotes an eternal union, or a husband and wife being reunited in death. They died almost exactly a year apart.

Close-up view of the top part of the headstone marking the grave of Isaac and Jemima Severn. It shows a relief carving of two clasped hands; the one on the left has a feminine lacy cuff while the other has a man’s shirt cuff.

A wider shot of Isaac and Jemima’s grave, showing the headstone partly covered with trailing ivy. The inscription reads:

In loving memory of
Isaac Severn
Who died Sep 10th 1915
Aged 85 years
Also
Jemima
Wife of the above
Who died Sep 7th 1916
Aged 83 years

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 1d

Day 8 of #31daysofgraves - glass. George Woolley and his wife Rebecca were members of one of Codnor’s most prominent families. As well as having this impressive monument in the cemetery, there is a stained glass window dedicated to them in the church.

A large pier-style grave monument decorated with classical-style columns at each corner and a relief carving of ivy in a semicircle at the bottom. The inscription on this side reads:

In loving memory of
Rebecca Woolley
The beloved wife of
George Woolley
of Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Notts
Who died July 2nd 1908
Aged 75 years

I know that my Redeemer liveth

The inscription on this panel reads:

In loving memory of
George Woolley
of Kirkby Parks,
Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Notts
And formerly of Codnor
who died September 1st 1910
Aged 79 years

I heard the voice of Jesus say come unto me and rest

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 2d

Day 7 of #31daysofgraves - angel. This beautiful 18th-century slate headstone is in the churchyard at Denby, Derbyshire. It marks the grave of Jane Brentnall, aged 22. Several generations of the Brentnall family are buried alongside each other. (Inscription in alt text). #taphophile #cemetery

A close up view of a slate headstone dating from the 18th century. At the top is a relief carving of an angel peering over its wings.

Here
rest in hopes of a Blessed
Immortality
The Remains of Jane
Daughter of
Benjamin and Ann Brentnall
of Locko Grange
She departed this life
January 19th 1789
Aged XXII years

(Aged 22 years)

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 2d

It reminds me of the episode of Ghosts (the original British version) where Thomas is trying to write a eulogy for Mary and Alison tells him “Thomas, I think you might have made it all about you…”

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 3d

I forgot to include the last part of the inscription in the alt text:

How quickly I sank neath the shadows of death
And eternity round me arose
O, reader, remember that life is a breath
And a breath may bring thine to a close

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 3d

Day 6 of #31daysofgraves - gender. Looking at this stone from a distance you’d be forgiven for thinking it marked the grave of Thomas Slack, but it actually belongs to his wife Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s name is inscribed in a small standard font whereas Thomas’s is in a large ornate script.

A slate headstone, close to the wall of Codnor church which has the following inscription:

In memory of
Elizabeth, wife of
Thomas Slack
of Codnor
who departed this life
November VIII MDCCCXLIX
Aged XXVIII years

(The Roman numerals translate as November 8th, 1849, aged 28 years)

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 3d

Day 5 of #31daysofgraves - bird. A throwback to 2019 when I accidentally took a 3-second video instead of a photo of this robin perched on the beautiful Edwardian headstone belonging to Eliza and John Greensmith. (I had to post a screenshot because the video wouldn’t upload 🤷‍♀️)

A robin perched on top of a headstone in Crosshill Cemetery, Codnor. The stone stands in a large area of grass with leaves scattered around it.

A closer view of the same headstone. It is decorated with relief carvings of flowers and ivy, and had the following inscription:

In Remembrance of
Eliza
The beloved wife of
John Greensmith
who died July 5 1912
aged 64 years
Also of
John Greensmith
Died Jany 18th 1941
aged 81 years
Re-united

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 5d

Inscription in alt text

Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 5d

Day 4 of #31daysofgraves - language. I will never tire of reading gravestones and I’m fascinated by the language we use to express love, remembrance and honour for our dead. The epitaph on Elizabeth Buckley’s grave is utterly heartbreaking. She was married to coal miner Abraham and had 5 children.

A slate headstone standing in Codnor churchyard. The inscription reads:
In Affectionate Remembrance of
Elizabeth Buckley
who died Sept 14th 1871
aged 34 years

Farewell dear husband, my life is past
My love was true while life did last
Pray for me, no sorrow make,
Love my children for my sake.

A tender wife, a loving mother,
It is hard to find out such another,
In love she lived, in peace she died,
She longed to live but God denied.

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 6d

Day 3 of #31daysofgraves - tomb. This ornate box tomb marks the grave of Elizabeth Starbuck who died in 1860. She was married to farmer Thomas Starbuck whose sister Ann married into the prominent Codnor family the Woolleys.

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 6d

Also, I think the broken chain is a reference to Arthur’s sudden death.

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 6d

You may well be right, I’m not religious so still learning about some of these things. It’s probably a reference to this bible quote: Hebrews 6:19, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." So the headstone has the anchor for hope and the cross for faith?

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 7d

You’re welcome! We all learn by sharing these stories.

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 7d

Day 2 of #31daysofgraves - nautical. When I saw this grave in my local cemetery I assumed it must have a seafaring connection but I was wrong. It marks the grave of Arthur Enstock who had a fatal heart attack at the colliery where he worked in 1937. The anchor represents a steadfast belief in Christ

A headstone shaped like a rock with a cross on top, entwined with an anchor and chain. This is the grave of Arthur Enstock.

SUDDEN DEATH IN BRITAIN PIT

CODNOR MINER’S FATAL SEIZURE

Just before ceasing work for the day, Mr Arthur Enstock, a haulage driver, of 112 Codnor Gate, Codnor, collapsed and died in Britain Colliery yesterday (Thursday) afternoon.

He was in his usual health when he went to work in the morning, but at 2.50 p.m. fellow workmen found him suffering the effects of a heart attack. Despite efforts at restoration he died a few minutes later.

A Codnor man, Mr Enstock was employed as a stallman at the old Brands Colliery for a number of years. Just over 30 years ago however, he was transferred to Britain Colliery, where he was the victim of a serious accident from which he never completely recovered.

He was for many years a member of Codnor Bethesda Methodist Church Choir and attended the church up to the time of his death. He also served a period on the Committee of the Codnor Branch of the National Deposit Friendly Society.

He was 64 years of age and leaves a widow and one son, for whom much sympathy is felt.

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · 7d

The first day of #October one of my favourite months of the year and the start of #31daysofgraves The prompt for today is flower so here’s a close-up of a Victorian headstone in Codnor, Derbyshire. Unfortunately the stone itself is very hard to read.

A closeup image of a worn gritstone headstone dating from the nineteenth century. The top of the stone has a roundel decorated with carved roses.

A wide shot of a Victorian gritstone headstone that has roses carved in a roundel design at the top. The inscription is unfortunately very hard to read.

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Reposted by Karen

Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · Feb 18

One side of this "memento mori" features a human face crawling with worms and insects; the other side shows a skull - the flesh eaten away. Date unknown.

This unusual object is from the Wellcome Collection in London.

A compilation of photos showing a small ivory head, one side is a human face with worms crawling over it, and the other side is a skull. It is made from ivory.

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Reposted by Karen

History and Heritage Yorkshire @handhyorkshire.bsky.social · Feb 14

Decorative tablet over doorway in Heptonstall inscribed F " 1 7 H E 3 6 " (Henry and Elizabeth Foster), It illustrates a man and woman carved in shallow relief wearing contemporary dress. Possibly a marriage stone which were popular until Victorian times. Image courtesy of Tim Green

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · Feb 13

Lillie and I share a birthday but sadly she only got to celebrate ten of hers. Her headstone was made by Codnor’s resident monument maker John Holbrook who decorated it with beautifully carved lily-of-the-valley. #cemetery #taphophile

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Karen @songthrush83.bsky.social · Feb 9

I thought it was about time I made my first post. On the left, Richard Brunt, longtime Codnor Parish Clerk, and his wife Sarah. On the right, their daughter Jane Alsop, who ran a dame school before she married, and Jane’s son Robert who was just 25 when he died in 1908. #cemetery #taphophile

Two gravestones standing side by side, set on green grass.

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