Elizabeth Smith - Swithland



There is a particularly fine collection of 17th and 18th Century headstones to the rear of the St. Leonard's Church in Swithland. The churchyard is beautifully kept. In the autumn sunshine this morning it was wonderfully peaceful. Hundreds of years having passed, the stories implied by the headstones do not carry the weight of sadness they undoubtedly did when fresh.   

 

Here

lieth the Body of

Eliz: Daughter of

Tho: and Mary

Smith. She de-

-parted this life

Janr: ye 2d 1723/4.

Aged 13: years.

 

This stone memorial to the child Elizabeth Smith, is notable for the double dating and for the skull and crossed bones detail at the top. 

 

 

 

 

Blank Headstones - Newtown Linford

All Saints in Newtown Linford has many 17th and 18th Century headstones, some of them quite unusual. The church is easy to find, being right next to the Bradgate Park car park.

I was particularly interested to see two headstones topped with skull and crossbones design, but with no inscription below. I'm sure someone must know the meaning of this. If so, please write in and let me know.

No inscription means no date. However, the size, shape and type of stone look closer to the Eighteenth Century graves than those from the Nineteenth Century.

Moses Miler - Scraptoft

Here Lies

the body of

Moses Miler

Who died Oct 26 1735

Aged 41 Years

All you that come my grave to see

As I am now so must you be

 

The skull and crossbones design seems to be a reference to the belief of the Knights Templar that if the skull and at least two large bones remained then the body would be resurrected at the Day of Judgement. The winged hourglass is presumably a reminder of mortality.

Underneath the crossed long bones and ribs are a crossed scythe and arrow, symbolically bringers of death. And to either side are a spade and pick, symbolic of grave digging.

This stone is easy to find in the pleasant churchyard at Scraptoft, just outside Leicester. It stands alongside a line of other 18th Century stones next to the path that runs between the road and the church itself.