Thread: Unusual Epitaphs

petal · 24-07-2007, 01:37 PM

Found this about unusual epitaphs and thought it might be of interest

Quote:

Search for epitaphs by Maev Kennedy 24/07/2007 The Guardian

Rest in pieces, poor John Fox, thrust down and trampled by a wagon in 1806, Robert Millthorp, who 'lost his life by inadvertently throwing this stone upon himself', and noble Corporal Rollo who 'held the lantern at the burial of Sir John Moore at Corunna'.
Rollo is typical of those who would slip from history without the memorials on their weathering tombstones: he somehow escaped mention in the Charles Wolfe poem, but is remembered in an inscription at Tynemouth Priory.

Poor Donald Robertson came to a horrible end, recorded in scrupulous detail at Eshness in Shetland: 'Died 14th June aged 63 years. He was a peaceable quiet man, and to all appearances a sincere Christian. His death was much regretted which was caused by the stupidity of Laurence Tulloch of Clothister (Sullom) who sold him nitre instead of Epsom Salts by which he was killed in the space of five hours after taking a dose of it.'

A search has now been launched by BBC History Magazine for the nation's most curious, touching or enigmatic gravestone epitaphs - inspired by the concern of Richard Smart, director of the National Archive of Memorial Inscriptions, that many will soon be lost forever. Of the estimated 6m gravestones in England, less than half have been recorded, and around 25,000 are thought to be lost to weathering, vandalism or relocation each year. Dr Smart re-surveyed eight parishes in Bedfordshire, first studied in the early 20th century, and found that a third of the information was lost or had become barely legible over 80 years.

The public are invited to send the magazine: bbchistorymagazine their favourite inscriptions by September 1, including a photograph, location, and a transcription.