Down the Drain

How you would like your mortal remains to be dealt with, may be discussed with your family members to ensure that your final wishes are met. My Father~in~law had always said that he was totally unconcerned with what happened to his remains once he was gone, because he would no longer be here.

He even joked that we could pour him down the drain for all he cared.

His suggestion of this particular method of disposal may have seemed a rather irreverent idea to some, but infact it has become a reality, at least in St. Petersburg, Florida, where the body may now be disposed of by a process known as Alkaline Hydrolysis .

The remains are liquified by submerging the body in a solution of water and potassium hydroxide which is pressurised to 10 atmospheres and heated to 180C for between two-and-a-half and three hours.

Body tissue is dissolved and the liquid poured into the municipal water system. Mr Sullivan, a biochemist by training, says tests have proven the effluent is sterile and contains no DNA, and poses no environmental risk.

The bones are then removed from the unit and processed in a "cremulator", the same machine that is used to crush bone fragments following cremation into ash. Metals including mercury and artificial joints and implants are safely recovered.

Click on the bold type above to see the full BBC news link to this article

Wednesday's Children

Devprit & Devinder

Singh Gill

Born and Died

6th October 1998

War Memorial ~ Matlock Bath, Derbyshire

Our Glorious Dead

In

Honoured Memory of

the Men of Matlock Bath

who gave their All

in the

Great War of Nations

1914 ~ 1919

What I liked most about this monument, was the fact that it depicted a Sailor in addition to the more commonly portrayed single Soldier, which reminds us that it was members from all of the various armed forces who gave their lives during the First World War .

Cemetery Excavations

The toppled tombstones are due to the excavations of it's residents, Graveyard Rabbits have caused this subsidence at Southend~on~Sea.

And Cemetery Badgers have moved into this quiet little spot in Rayleigh as well, there's even a road sign outside that warns drivers of their nocturnal highway crossings.........

Friday's Funerary Art ~ Mosaics

Jacob Bouhuijs

1874 ~1950

Jannetje Bouhuijs

v. Teijningen

1879 ~ 1964

                                 

A Very Eclectic Cemetery

Oosterbeek Cemetery in Arnhem, Netherlands, is divided into two seperate but adjacent halves. The older 'South' site was established in 1899, with the newer 'North' site dating from 1957, when the original cemetery reached it's maximum capacity.

The 'South' site is laid out in a neat and formal style of orderly rows, divided by low box hedges and avenues of mature fir trees.

The 'North' site has informal winding pathways, where the grave sites are set amongst a more natural heath and woodland background.

The interment of Ashes may also be placed in one of a selection of different eclectic styles, such as the tumulus burial mounds of ancient times, made from wood chippings instead.

Or the modern ceramic 'cotton reel' and 'jar' type containers that rest securely in their own custom built table tops.

So whether you prefer the tradtional and conventional or the more natural or modern, the overwhelming peace and tranquility that can be found in the Oosterbeek Cemeteries, ensures that it certainly can provide a suitable place for everyone.    

 

Wednesday's Children

1933 ~ 1938

Onze

Lieve Addie

1940  Nici  1944



I almost missed the small child depicted on this stone when I first looked at it, unfortunately I could find no Surname for them.

UPDATE :

A big thank you goes to Henk van Kampen for the following information:

The surname is Franken.

Adrianus Franken died on 12 Nov 1938, aged 5.

Nicoline Adriana Franken died 10 Oct 1944, aged 4.
Parents were Frank Franken and Nicoline van den Brink.

Source: Genlias.nl.

Man's Best Friend

I discovered this life sized faithful friend at the Oosterbeek Cemetery in Arnhem, Netherlands. He is about the same size as a New Foundland dog, so he's pretty big and beautifully detailed. I loved the way that the earth had spilled out of the bowl on this monument, as though he had been digging in it, as dogs do........

His Masters name is

Sebo H. Wildringh

1924~2005 

For They Are Jolly Good Fellows...

In the Churchyard of St. Andrew and St.Mary's in Grantchester, stands a monument to the Fellows of the Universities of Cambridge. The pelican at the top is a Christian symbol that denotes self~sacrifice.

It was earlier believed that the pelican fed it's young from a self inflicted gash, however the bird was merely feeding them from her pouch. The legend that was born from this observation, said that after the chicks had been killed by a snake, the mother bird resuscitated her young by feeding them her own blood. A great act of self~sacrifice for the sake of her children.

There are more names inscribed on the base of this monument than I have listed here, as all the horizontal surfaces have dedications as well. Unfortunately the lichens and weather have made them illegible.

Bruce Dickins

Fellow

Erlington & Bosworth

Professor of Anglo~Saxon

1880~1978

David James Bruce

Fellow

1928~1998

John Edward Lennard Jones

K.B.E ScD E.R.S Fellow

Professor Theoretical

Chemistry Principal

Univ. Col. Keele

1894~1954

Evelyn Garthmore

Fellow

1906~1990

John Thomson Mac ( Curdy ) ?

ScD Fellow

University Lecturer

1886~1947

Ronald R Henderson

A.O. C.M.G

Professor

1917~1994

George Stuart Carter

Fellow

1893~1969

Patrice Edouard Charvet

Fellow

1903~1993

and his wife

Eleanor Margaret

1904~1986

Malcolm Archer Sheridan Burgess

Fellow

1926~1978

John Harley Mason

Fellow

1920~2003

Stuart Dunsmore Elliot

Fellow

1907~1986

Gerard Mark Duveen

Fellow

1931~2008

Richard Bainbridge

Fellow

1922~1987

   

Creepy Crypt

At the back of St.Mary's in Arksden is the entrance to the Crypt of the Birch~Wolfe Family

In the darkness and the gloom, they are resting for eternity........

All of them that is, apart from Marianne. She had an argument with her husbands successor the new Reverend and refused to be interred in there, so she locked the door and then threw the key into it afterwards. She is now buried directly in front of the Creepy Crypt.

In affectionate rememberance of

Marianne Birch~Wolfe widow of

Rev W Birch~Wolfe of Woodhall

died 6 August 1897 

 

Church Monuments ~ Arkesden

Heare lyeth Richard Cutte Esquier Sonne and heire to Peter Cutte Esquier Sonne and heire to John Cutte Esquier Sonne and heire to Richard Cutte Esquier which Richard was brother to Sir John Cutte of horram hall in thaxted treasurer of themost honorable houshould of the mighty king henrie the 8 this Richard died the 16 day of Auguste ann di 1592. Here lyeth also Marye Cutte late wife of this Richard and daughier of Edward Ellington of thoyden boys in Essix chiefe butler of England to the most renouned king Edward the 6 this Marye died the 20 of januari ann di 1594 6 Queene Marye and Queene Elyzabethe

As ye are nowe, so once weare we, As we nowe are so shall ye be

When ye remember us forget not your selues 

The small village church of Arkesden, Essex, is home to the amazing tomb of the Cutte family. Both Richard and Mary died in 1692 and are buried in this extraordinary monument inside St Mary's the Virgin, its sheer size dominates one half of the front of the Church.

Depicted around the base of the tomb are the Cutte's six children, all kneeling in prayer, however all four boys have been 'beheaded' and Oliver Cromwell's men have been blamed for this. 

Richard Cutte's estate Wood Hall, is where the manor house of the village stood ~ built in 1652 and later altered ~ it stands on the site of a Saxon manor, named Wodehall which is listed in the Domesday Book.

Although there is nothing to indicate Richard Cutte’s role in the spread of Non~conformity to this part of the region, it was here that the first Congregationalists signed their covenant on 22 December 1682, consisting of a group that had spread out from Cambridgeshire. However at that time their meetings were illegal and so they met clandestinely at first, presumably with the blessing of Richard and Mary Cutte.

The Cutte family are more famed for their part in the Battle of Blenheim, when John Cutte, born in Arkesden in 1661, led Marlborough’s attack, earning him the nickname ‘The Salamander’ for his bravery.

On the floor next to the Cutte monument is a brass memorial to the Knight Richard Fox 1439.

Wednesday's Child

In

Loving Memory of

Kate Elizabeth Bailey

who fell asleep May ? 187?

aged 2 years and 7 months

Jesus called a little child unto Him

Women at War

Whilst visiting London at the weekend, I saw this monument for the very first time and was rather struck by it. Women at War stands in Whitehall alongside the Cenotaph and it pays homage to the 7 million women, whether in the Services or civillian, who made a contribution to the War Effort.  

Friday's Funerary Art ~ Art Nouveau

The Art Nouveau style was most popular from 1890 ~ 1905, with it's elegant free flowing lines and graceful curves that swirl around stylized shapes and flowers. 

This Art Nouveau monument for the Family of the Trader, Ernest Caillat 1839~1899. It is said to have been designed by Hector Guimard, who was primarily an architect and designer, known mainly for his famous Metro underground train entrances in Paris.

He also designed villas, town houses and tenements and also created the interior decorations, furniture and other objects in this style.

We visited Pere~lachaise in Paris, about 10 years ago and unfortunately my camera was not a digital one then, so my pictures need to be scanned first and sometimes the quality is rather poor !

That sounds like the perfect excuse to re~visit

Wednesday's Child

Multiply Upon Him The

Blessings of Thy Love

John Spens

Born May 1st 1913

Died February 13th 1914

I was rather excited about this recent find in the Ascension Burial Ground in Cambridge, because I have not seen a relief of a baby wrapped in swaddling bands like this before.
Also I believe that the circular crosses in the corners of the headstone represent Canterbury Cross, which are used by the Anglican Church, and this Burial ground was formerly that of St.Gile's and St. Peter's Parish.

 

What the Ivy Revealed

I love the Gothic atmosphere, that Ivy running wild can bring to the monuments in an old cemetery. It seems to add it's own contrasting message to the unchanging stillness and silence of the sentinal stones, reminding us that life is continually moving forward.

Having appreciated that though.....

I just had to peel it back to see what it would reveal underneath

A beautiful but sadly broken lily bud, before it had the time to blossom.

Friday's Funerary Art ~ Art Deco Styles

The following monuments are in the Art Deco style, which reached it's peak during the 1930's, with it's geometric streamlined patterns and shapes. This style was applied to almost everything of that era, architecture, transport, furniture, household items and also included fashion and hairstyles.

It's interesting to see the similarity between this building in Los Angeles, and the monument above it from Southend~on~Sea in England.

  

And this monument in Llandudno in Wales, reminds me of the iconic Chrysler building in New York. 

Even though the headstone is a simple one, this Art Deco vase below reflecs the style of those times.

Angels Guided Her To Heaven

In Loving Memory of our darling

Ivy Grace

the dearly beloved and only child of Charles & Daphne Brown

Born, Gold Mohur Castle, Bombay, 14th December 1886

Died at Limpley Lodge, Llandudno 7th April 1907

Who plucked this flower ? The Master !

And the Gardener held his peace

Weep not for death ! the fount of tears is sealed;

Who knows how bright the inward light

To those closed eyes revealed ~

Who knows what Holy love may fill

The heart that seems so cold and still 

~~~~

Also in Loving Memory

of her Father

Charles Campbell Brown

who died at Weymouth

19th Jan. 1916 in his 59th year

God's Finger touched him and he slept.

Wednesday's Child

In Loving Memory of

our Darling

Keith Dodds

who fell asleep Feb. 1st 1941

aged 5 years 11 months

'An Angel Lent'

Monday Mourning ~ Tomb Styles

Coffin Tomb

The Coffin tomb has a main body that is coffin shaped and the three above also have head and foot stones. The ones pictured here all belong to the same family and the smaller one in the middle contains two children of that family.

Here is another example of Coffin tombs from the same churchyard, where the main stone has a rounded top and is a tapered coffin shape, these examples also have head and foot stones as well.  

   

The Coffin tombs above are in the Churchyard of Holy Trinity, a Church of England parish church in Rayleigh, Essex. A church has existed on this site since Saxon times and the present building has a Norman chancel. The bell tower was built in the 15th century and includes stone taken from the castle when that fell into disuse. The church has an impressive Tudor brick porch. The Gothic Revival architect, C.C. Rolfe restored the chancel in 1873.

More coffin tombs, this time from St.Mary's Church in Saffron Walden, Essex.