In Search of Gravestones Old and Curious Part 7

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 64. LEE.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 65. ORPINGTON.]

FIG. 65.--AT ORPINGTON, KENT.

"To Hosa Mansfield, daughter of John and Martha Mansfield, died 24th May 1710, aged 26 years. Also James Mansfield, son of John and Martha Mansfield, died 30th Dec'r 1746, aged 48 years."

The work in this instance is crude, and apparently done by an inexpert craftsman. The stone is, however, decayed, and it is possible that it is the draughtsman who has blundered. The two skulls, being of different sizes, suggest the male and female occupants of the grave, and would therefore a.s.sign the production to the later rather than the earlier date. The two bones are not often found in so lateral a position, and the vampire wings are clumsy in the extreme. I have collected varieties of the skull and crossbone character in many places, and seen the eccentricities of many masons in the way of wings, but have met with very few so far astray as these. While I am engaged in transferring the specimen to my book, our epitaph hunter has been round and discovered a treasure. I shall not trouble the reader with him henceforth, but I may note just this one of his successes as a sample of the rewards which attend his part in the pilgrimage. He has found a stone thus inscribed:

"Here lyeth the body of Mary, the wife of John Smith: she died March 17th, 1755, aged 58 years.

"Here lyeth Mary, never was contrary To me nor her neighbours around her; Like Turtle and Dove we lived in love, And I left her where I may find her.

"Also John Smith, husband of the above."

(Date sunk underground.)

A short walk through the village and by the Cray River brings us to the church of St. Mary Cray, where I secure a new species, in which Death is doubly symbolized by the not infrequent scythe and possibly also by the pierced heart. The latter might refer to the bereaved survivor, but, being a-flame, seems to lend itself more feasibly to the idea of the immortal soul. The trumpet and the opening coffin indicate peradventure the resurrection.

FIG. 66.--AT ST. MARY CRAY.

"To Thomas Abbott, died May 21, 1773, aged 75 years."

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 66. ST. MARY CRAY.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 67. ST. PAUL'S CRAY.]

Only a short distance farther, for the churches are small, we reach St. Paul's Cray, the burial-ground of which shews that the foregoing allegory was immediately duplicated, apparently by another hand, with just a little variation to redeem the piracy. The coffin is quite opened and empty, instead of being slightly open and tenanted, which is almost the only difference between the May and the September work.

FIG. 67.--AT ST. PAUL'S CRAY.

"To John Busbey, died 1st Sept'r 1773, aged 70 years."

Foot's Cray is a good long step beyond and does not yield much profit, but I select the most novel specimen, which is a combination of ordinary emblems, with little attempt at symmetry, or even arrangement, other than the awkward juxtaposition of the cherubins'

inner wings.

FIG. 68.--AT FOOT'S CRAY.

"To Elizabeth Wood, died February 8, 1735-6, aged 58 years."

The churchyard at North Cray added nothing at all to my collection.

This was the only blank drawn that day, but a beautifully kept ground surrounding a delightful church well repaid the visit. A call at Old Bexley Church completed the day's work, and gave me one of the few sketches belonging to the nineteenth century which I have made.

FIG. 69.--AT OLD BEXLEY.

"To Susannah, wife of Henry Humphrey, died 26th December 1805, aged 57 years."

The anchor stands for Hope, the draped urn signifies mourning for the dead, and the figure reading the Holy Book suggests consolation. From Bexley Church to the railway station was but a brief s.p.a.ce. The day's tramp was ended.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 68. FOOT'S CRAY.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 69. BEXLEY.]

CHAPTER VI.

MORE TYPICAL TRAMPS.

How far county divisions might affect the early fashions in gravestones was one of my first questions, and, having seen much of Kent, time was soon found for a scamper through the country bordering Epping Forest and along the backbone of Ess.e.x.

At Barking, just within the old Abbey gate, I came upon an enigmatical ill.u.s.tration.

FIG. 70.--AT BARKING.

Inscription illegible. Date appears to be 1759.

The signification of the four b.a.l.l.s I am unable to suggest, unless they be connected in some way with the planetary system and point man's insignificance. They appear to emanate from a cloud resting upon the hour-gla.s.s, and may help the other emblems in symbolizing time and eternity. The nickering candle is also of doubtful interpretation. It may mean the brevity of life; it can hardly be needed, in the presence of the skull, to indicate death. The candle is sometimes employed alone, occasionally extinguished. At Woolwich there is an instance in which the candle is in the act of being put out.

FIG. 71.--AT WOOLWICH.

"To Siston Champion, died 27th Feb. 1749-50 (a few days after the birth of her child), aged 28 years."

The candle is indeed commonly used as a simile of life's uncertainty in all countries, and it may be that where it is represented in a state of burning it may be meant as a lesson on the number of our days. It is seen with the skulls in the churchyard of St. Nicholas, Deptford, and other places.

FIG. 72.--AT DEPTFORD.

"To William Firth, died 1724, aged 21 years."

In West Ham Churchyard may be seen the figure of the kissing cherubs rather prettily rendered, but to be found in various forms in many places, and always expressive of affection.

FIG. 73.--AT WEST HAM.

"To Sarah Moore, died 1749."

Wanstead Churchyard is remarkable for the abundance and originality of its old gravestones. Here is one (Fig. 74) which carries more distinctly the fanciful idea suggested at West Ham (page 34, Fig. 63); flowers and foliage, and even fruit, combining with the lowered torch and summoning trumpet to tell of life beyond the grave.

FIG. 74.--AT WANSTEAD.

"To William Bosely, died 1712, aged 79."

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 70. BARKING.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 71. WOOLWICH.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 72. DEPTFORD.]