In Search of Gravestones Old and Curious Part 4

"To Ann Charman, died 1793, aged 54 years."

No one to whom I have shewn this sketch has given a satisfactory interpretation of it, but it will be allowed that the design is as graceful as it is uncommon. That it also in all likelihood refers to the Day of Judgment may perhaps be regarded as a natural supposition.

Even the open or half-open coffin, shewing the skeleton within, may possibly have some reference to the rising at the Last Day. We have this figure employed in a comparatively recent case at Fawkham in Kent, being one example of nineteenth-century sculpture.

FIG. 36.--AT FAWKHAM.

"Thomas Killick, died 1809, aged 1 month 1 day."

A crown is usually the emblem of Victory, but held in the hand, as in this instance, it indicates, I am told, an innocent life.

Other coffins displaying wholly or partly the corpse or skeleton within are perhaps not intended to convey any such pious or poetic thought as do the two foregoing, but simply to pourtray the ghastliness of death, a kind of imagery much fancied by the old stonemasons.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 34. DARENTH.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 35. KINGSDOWN.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 36. FAWKHAM.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 37. SWANs...o...b...]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 38. ASHFORD.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 39. COOLING.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 40. HENDON.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 41. EAST WICKHAM.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 42. SNARGATE.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 43. EAST HAM.]

FIG. 37.--AT SWANs...o...b...

"To Elizabeth Hall, died 1779, aged 76 years."

FIG. 38.--AT ASHFORD.

"To Stephen Kennedy, died Sept. 1791, aged 61 years."

In the latter ill.u.s.tration there are three stars to which I can give no signification. The snake-ring is, of course, eternity, and the book, as before surmised, may stand for the record of a good life.

More ingenious, more didactic, and altogether more meritorious than these is another series of designs belonging to the same period of time. They are not only as a rule conceived in better taste, but are, almost consequently, better in their execution. The following example from Cooling, a small village in the Medway Marshes, is an excellent specimen of its cla.s.s, and a very exceptional "find" for a spot so remote.

FIG. 39.--AT COOLING.

"To M'r Richard Prebble of Cliffe, died April 1775."

One of later date at Hendon, Middles.e.x, is also to be commended. The lyre, cornet, and tambourine speak of music, and the figures of Fame and Hope are hardly to be misunderstood, but the large box in the background is not quite certain of correct interpretation.

FIG. 40.--AT HENDON.

"To Ludwig August Leakfield, Esq., died Nov. 22, 1810, aged 48 years."

The following is rougher in form, but seems to have suffered from the weather. It needs no explanation.

FIG. 41.--AT EAST WICKHAM.

"To Thomas Vere of Woolwich, s.h.i.+pwright, died 10th August, 1789."

The two next subjects are to be found in many variations. The angel with the cross in each case may represent salvation proclaimed.

FIG. 42.--AT SNARGATE.

"To Edward Wood, died Sept. 1779, aged 50 years."

FIG. 43.--AT EAST HAM.

"To Mr Richard Wright, died July 28, 1781, aged 39 years."

The winged scroll in Fig. 44 is unfolded to display, we may suppose, a register of good and holy deeds done in an extended life. The scythes and the reversed torches may be taken at their usual significance, which is death. This is copied from a stone in the churchyard of Wilmington by Dartford Heath.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 44. WILMINGTON.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 45. WANSTEAD.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 46. SOUTHFLEET.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 47. WILMINGTON.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 48. LEWISHAM.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 49. BUNHILL FIELDS.]

FIG. 44.--AT WILMINGTON.

"To Richard Barman, died 1793, aged 71 years."

More elegant testimony is paid by the figure of a winged urn in Wanstead Old Churchyard, the flame which burns above indicating, it would seem, that though the body be reduced to ashes, the soul survives.

FIG. 45.--AT WANSTEAD.

"To William Cleverly, died 1780, aged 40 years."

Eternity is usually, as we have seen, represented by an endless ring--often as a serpent. It is so in the Southfleet sketch, in which appear the two horns of the archangels, and the living torch, with some other objects which are not quite clearly defined.

FIG. 46.--AT SOUTHFLEET.