Picture of a Georgian gravestone in Leeds
Walking around the churchyard of the church of St Wilfrid at Calverley a few days back I noticed this small headstone with just a few words incised on it by a stonemason. The words on the gravestone are: W G died Jany 21st 1811, aged 4 years. I know nothing about WG, not even if a boy or a girl. The headstone is nicely carved by a mason who knew their craft back in the days when it was all done by hand.
These were tumultuous times here in the England of 1811 when this youngster died and was buried here in Leeds, Yorkshire. This was the period of the Napoleonic Wars and also the Anglo - Swedish War 1810–1812
You can see more pictures and stories of graves, headstones and memorials from around the World at Taphophile Tragics
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Interesting find but a sad way to start my day off.
ReplyDeleteThe parents must have been heartbroken; also, they must have been well off in order to afford such a beautiful head stone for their beloved child. I wonder what made them decide on just the initials and not the full name. Of course, every letter carved by a stonemason cost money, and maybe they could not afford a "full" head stone but still wanted to give their deceased son or daughter the best they could. Sad and intriguing at the same time.
ReplyDeleteIt has certainly stood the test of time. Wonderful, yet sad, craftsmanship.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Librarian: the cost of every word had to be weighed up by a poor family... which may be why it was initials only. The other speculation is that the child was illegitimate, so the name was disguised.
ReplyDeleteThe W stands most likely for William; of course, it could also be a Wilma or Wesley or something else. But somehow I have "William Grant" in my head.
ReplyDeleteMark R's speculation is definitely a possibility, too.
When I see these lonely graves I wonder what happened to the parents and if they perhaps moved away.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful craftsmanship that really pulls on the heartstrings.
ReplyDeleteIt is beautiful and moving with a lot of content in the one, simple picture. I mistook it to mean W and G and was, therefore, imagining twins. Like the others, I'm tantalised by the lack of family mention. Am currently re-reading 'Moonfleet' where it's clear grave-diggers, coffin makers as well as stone-masons sometimes had to step in for one reason or another - when a family was unable (or, I suppose it may at times have been because they were unwilling)to pay for the burial. Rightly or wrongly, the spare text and careful craftsmanship makes one feel there was love in the work and, therefore, presumably for the children. Just as Moonfleet was inspired by a gravestone, maybe you have the beginnings of a major novel here!
ReplyDeletewhat a beautiful, yet very sad stone. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBeneath Thy Feet