Monday, October 15, 2012

June 12: Four generations of graves, how they evolved

The other day, I popped into the Stanmore cemetery. I have passed this place so many times, but I finally managed to get a chance to have some time, my camera and a fond hope of seeing something interesting.

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Here is the view which greeted me after I parked. Its a long gently rolling landscape.

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The graves start from the right hand side

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Quite new.

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These are hardly 20-30 years old at the most.

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I decide to start walking on the right hand side path

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Which curves around.

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heh, somebody left a tiny bottle of booze to commemorate their father? uncle? very cute.

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This grave has quite a lot of lovely grave ornaments.

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A little seat with sumerian motifs? winged lions? hmmm

The following display on the right are about the children’s graves. Very sad

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Some of them are maintained, some of them have fallen into disrepair. (sighs)

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This little baby has his birthday celebrated..

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Quite beautiful, soe of the graves

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sighs…

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A beam of sunlight falls across a little grave..

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A little bear…

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I have now reached the end of the main part of the cemetery..

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And to the right, I can see a path winding its way through

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These graves are about 20 odd years old..

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Looking back at the entrance.

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I head up the other path

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This is the new part of the cemetery, much more recent graves here.

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that’s such a sad puppy..

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an angel…

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Jesus…

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St. Francis?

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Another grave with some angels..and a glass sphere with flowers. Very nice

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Why is there a horseshoe here?

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Some cherubs

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Couple of cute fairies…

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Another child’s grave…

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Some of the graves are totally covered with ornaments…

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One with an Irish flag…

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An Easter bunny?

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And a cute puppy..

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This grave also celebrated a birthday..

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Another child’s grave…



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A bench with a memorial.

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erm, 3 oranges in a little plate?

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Something tells me that the chap was a golfer

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A stone book with a cherub peering at it wonderingly

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A little house..

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That’s where I came from, there is still about half the land left to plonk in more graves.

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A memorial chair..

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I am now heading back

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There is the yard where I entered.

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Jesus

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Crows flying off.

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I am now heading into the third part of the cemetery.

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hmmm, makes sense

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Here the graves are about 50-70 years old but there are still some new graves.

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A veteran’s grave

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The stone angel’s can show the age of the grave

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Based upon the maintenance and upkeep of the graves, I think it usually takes about 50 years for everybody to forget you. Pretty humbling, eh?

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A big Jesus statue.

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A lovely little statue of Madonna and Child.

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These graves belong to veterans who died in active duty.

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I see a little path on the side.

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And a church opens up

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I look back at the yard.

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Hmmm, anti vandal paint? This is because there is a heavy spate of metal thefts from various churches.

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Very old graves here, going back 100-200 years.

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Now that’s a massive grave

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A cat taking it easy..

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Another beautiful tomb

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I moved around the corner and the bell tower opens up.

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An iron cross on the top

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These graves were arranged in a circle..with heavily overgrown grass.

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Very highly carved Celtic cross.

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The belltower

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Beautiful graves..

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The wonderful door..

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I walk around the church..

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Another door

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Another massive angel

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A Celtic cross on the corner..

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Dried ivy creeper..

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The lightning conductor running down the side of the bell tower.

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A stone window high up.

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Died 1878…

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These grave stones are all lying about..

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I come to the front of the church.

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With some wreathes on the ground.

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Very good and well maintained gate.

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An interesting use, eh?

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Looking back at the church.

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It was starting to get late..

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The tower appears from the foliage.

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Another veteran grave..I am now walking back

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Ivy climbing up the wall…

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Walking back

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A lovely little cherub, a bit damaged..

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Celebrating Chelsea Football club..

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A beam of light..

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A little path separating the two parts of the graveyard

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Let me guess, the person loved cats..

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I am at the starting point. Graveyards and cemeteries always make me very thoughtful. Its so peaceful. Here is the slideshow with more photographs if you are interested..

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