Genealogy Chat

Has anyone else heard of this? I only found out about it this afternoon - from a radio programme. It seems that in the last four years, three people have died as a result of Headstones falling on them. As a result, several councils throughout the country (for reasons of Health & Safety) have taken up the Topple Test. I can't remember, exactly, how many 'pounds per square inch' of pressure is applied - but basically a certain amount of force is applied to each Headstone. If the Headstone doesn't withstand such force, then it is deemed unsafe, but in proving the case, the Headstone falls down. So, if the next time you visit a cemetery you find some of the graves 'vandalised' it may well be the local council that is responsible. If you're looking for the graves of long lost relatives, you may never find them. M. Steer

My council has been checking all the stones in the cemetery from last year and a lot are marked with yellow tape as unsafe, some have been laid on the ground. There are notices to relatives displayed about contacting the council. We had moms stone put up 5 years ago but when dad died last year and the stone was removed for burial and inscription we had to pay extra for a metal pole to be inserted through the stone and into a concrete base. We were told this is now standard practise. Ellen X

Seems strange to me. A metal pole will rust away long before a stone will erode. There ought to be a legal requirement for all cemeteries to record what is inscribed on every headstone in the place before it's too late. I have seen so many where the inscription is now illegible, yet a paper Parish Register is clearly readable.

The 'Eastern Necropolis' in Dundee has been devastated by this safety measure. In some rows of the old cemetery, up to half the stones have been toppled. Overall, it's difficult to judge, but perhaps one in ten. Initially, stones were just being pushed over, most lying face down, partly over other stones, and often broken by the fall. More recently, perhaps after complaints, they've been using a block and tackle to gently lower stones - still mostly face down. I suppose if they're ever to be erected again, it's better to have them face down so that water doesn't pool in incised words, but they're totally inaccessible until then. Too many of the Dundee stones were cut from sandstone and have weathered to illegibility anyway, but that's another problem.

I recently went to visit a church in Swaledale where I know some of mine are buried. They too have laid most of the headstones flat. Many of these are over 100 years old & I doubt there are any rellies in the area who COULD have them fixed. (Churchyard is so old its full up & so no recent burials there) Safety measure? Well, there isn't enough room between the stones to cut the grass. Its now so overgrown that you now have these flat stones & kerbs buried under the long grass. So you trip over them if you go wandering up & down. Personally I think leaving them up would have been safer. But then I'm of an age where I wouldn't dream of playing in the churchyard either, nor would I when I was a child.

With regards to churchyard gravestones, all PCCs in my area have been informed by the church authorities that a gravestone inspection must be carried out annually, and a dated notice displayed to say that this has been carried out. Any monument deemed to be unsafe has to be removed - next of kin are to be informed whenever possible. This inspection has to be carried out to meet with health and safety requirements and is also needed in order to comply with insurance terms and conditions for the church building and site. Jay

Grampa, We are trying to get the church down the road to allow us to repair one of my ancestors headstones - 200 years old. At the moment two thirds of it is leaning against the church wall, just waiting for some likely lad to nick it for a nice patio centre piece and the other third is in the ground. It is a beautifully carved stone with a lovely personalised legend on it. The current thought is that we have to get a stone mason (who must be insured) to drill into the bit in the ground two holes and into the bigger piece and then fit two stainless steel rods in both ends before they are joined and glued into place.

As an aside I found a book about the village where my moms family originated. It appears that my ggg granddad was a stonemason and publican. In 1854 a certain stonemason was employed to repair the parish church. He stole headstones belonging to the previous vicars family. They were found many years later in two houses and a pub that my ggg granddad owned., He was not named in the book. Ellen X

Vicky - off topic, I know, but your post reminded me: As a teenager in a small village, we used to sit on the graveyard wall, playing our trannies, lol. One day we all received a visit at home from the local bobby, who gave us all a stern telling off. We each had to write a letter of apology to the Vicar, which he read out at Sunday Service. I was gated FOR LIFE, practically, as were my friends and my mother was convinced that she had a juvenile delinquent on her hands, with a police record to boot. Changed days, eh? Olde Crone

Yes, happy days - were you listening to Luxembourg or Caroline?? Im remembering almost being sick when a bobby shouted at us for scrumping. We hadnt even been scrumping just picking up the fallen apples. I can still feel my stomach churn with fear.