In Search of Gravestones Old and Curious — John Shaqi
In Search of Gravestones Old and CuriousVincent, W. T. (William Thomas)
History
In Search of Gravestones Old and Curious
Vincent, W. T. (William Thomas)
Sepulchral monuments
In the churchyards of Hawkhurst, Benenden, Bodiam, Cranbrook,
Goudhurst, and all through the Great Weald these incised stones are
to be discovered by hundreds, very much of one type perhaps, but
displaying nevertheless some extraordinary variations. I know of no
district so fruitful of these examples as the Weald of Kent.
Even when the rude system of cutting into the stone ceased to be
practised and relief carving became general, grossness of idea seems
to have survived in many rural parishes. One specimen is to be seen
in the churchyard of Stanstead in Kent, and is, for relief work,
childish.
FIG. 19.--AT STANSTEAD.
"To William Lock, died 1751, aged 16 years."
However, the vast number of gravestones carved in relief are, on the
whole, creditable, especially if we consider the difficulty which met
the workmen in having to avoid giving to their crossbones and other
ornaments the appearance of horns growing out of their skulls.
[Illustration: FIG. 18. MEOPHAM.]
[Illustration: FIG. 19. STANSTEAD.]
[Illustration: FIG. 20. OLD ROMNEY.]
[Illustration: FIG. 21. CRAYFORD.]
[Illustration: FIG. 22. SHOREHAM.]
[Illustration: FIG. 23. LEWISHAM.]
[Illustration: FIG. 24. HOBNSEY.]
FIG. 20.--AT OLD ROMNEY.
"To William Dowll, died 1710, aged 40 years."
The winged skull probably typifies flight above.
FIG. 21.--AT CRAYFORD.
"To John Farrington, died Dec. 8, 1717, aged
above fourty years."
In the appropriate design from Shoreham the same idea is better
conveyed both by the winged head and by the torch, which when elevated
signifies the rising sun, and when depressed the setting sun. The
trumpet in this case would seem to mean the summons. The two little
coffins are eloquent without words.
FIG. 22.--AT SHOREHAM.
"The children of Thomas and Jane Stringer,
died Sept'r 1754, aged 10 and 7 years."
In Lewisham Churchyard is one of the death's head series almost _sui
generis_.
FIG. 23.--AT LEWISHAM.
"To Richard Evens, died May 18, 1707, aged
67 years."
The chaplet of bay-leaves or laurel doubtless indicates "Victory."
Not only is this an early and well-accomplished effort, but it is
remarkable for the presence of a lower jaw, which is seldom seen on a
gravestone. The skull turned up by the sexton is usually the typical
object, and to that we may presume the nether jaw is not often
attached. It is found, however, on a headstone of a somewhat weak
design in Old Hornsey Churchyard.
FIG. 24.--AT HORNSEY.
"To Mr John Gibson, whipmaker, died Oct.
30, 1766, aged 44 years."
The hand seems to be pointing to the record of a well-spent life which
has won the crown of glory.
There is another of the lower jaw series at Teddington, which is also,
in all probability, the only instance of a man's nightcap figuring in
such gruesome circumstances.
FIG. 25.--AT TEDDINGTON.
"To Sarah Lewis, died June 11, 1766, aged
63 years."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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