Epitaphs in Cemeteries

This week we look at the last words that remember our ancestors by examining epitaphs in burial grounds. 

The grave of In Loving Memory of Alice Freestone in Alby (St Ethelbert) Churchyard, Norfolk. Her epitaph describes her as, "A Dear Wife and Mother" and "Worthy of Remembrance".

According to the Oxford Dictionary, epitaphs are, "words that are written or said about a dead person, especially words on a gravestone."

The Deceased Online website includes photographs of graves and memorials, as well as digital scans of cremation and burial registers. 

Photographs, such as those from our Norfolk Collection, can give you an insight into the character of the deceased. They also provide us with essential genealogical information, such as the names of relatives.

Among our records are some fascinating memorials and epitaphs.

The Londonist website wrote an interesting post on Brompton Cemetery, whose burial registers you can search in our database.

The headstone of Percy Lambert (1881-1913) in Brompton Cemetery, London.

The article highlighted the epitaph of Percy Lambert, "the first person to drive 100 miles in an hour, whose headstone bears the marvellously Edwardian inscription: 'A modest friend, a fine gentleman and a

thorough sportsman'." 

Above is the burial register entry for Percy Lambert in the Deceased Online database and his index entry is below.

last name 

LAMBERT 

first names 

PERCY EDGAR 

burial date 

04 November 1913 

authority

location 

Brompton Cemetery (Kensington And Chelsea) 

Do any of your ancestors have memorable epitaphs? We would love to hear about them. Do let us know about them in the Comments Box below or on our Facebook and Twitter pages.