skull carvings

Seen in Ashwell church, Hertfordshire. Pentax K-3, SMC Pentax-FA 31mm Ltd lens.

Pentax K-3.

Caldecote church. Pentax K-3, SMC Pentax 28mm f/3.5 shift.

Pentax K10D, SMC Pentax-DA 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 AL

Tombstone in the churchyard of St James the Great, Thorley, Herts. The monument is to Mr Robert Flack, tenant of Thorley Hall. He died on the 24th August 1750. Interestingly, the stone was erected by his landlord, Mattw Raper. The photograph was taken in 2012 when we were walking a leg of the Hertfordshire Way with Pentax MX on Kodak Ektar 100. I'll have to dig out the negs and make a larger scan. Pentax MX, Kodak Ektar 100.

Detail on the monument to Elizabeth Garrard, wife of Sir John Garrard of Lamer, 1st Baronet in St Helen's Church, Wheathampstead, Herts. They had eight daughters and six sons of which one daughter and one son died young as shown by them holding a skull. The monument is a splendid example of a early 17th century monument.

Tomb of Anne Bartlett, nee Mychell, Branscombe church, Devon. Pentax MX, Agfa APX 100, tripod, cable release.

This is a detail from the "great monument", St Peter and St Paul, Little Gaddesden. The monument was raised by the Second Earl of Bridgewater to commemorate his Countess, Elizabeth, and the First Earl and his Countess.

A different monument in the Church of St Peter and St Paul, Little Gaddesden, Hertfordshire. This time the detail is from that to the Third Earl of Bridgewater.

This is a detail from the monument to Mary Urmston in the church of St Mary with St John, Hertingfordbury. Pentax K-3, SMC Pentax 150mm f/4 lens.

I spotted this fine skull-and-cross bones gravestone from the shelter of the chuch porch. It was raining very hard! Pentax K-3, SMC Pentax "K" 150mm f/4 lens.

This is a detail from the monument to Sir Samuel Garrard, fifth Baronet of Lamer (1692 to 1761). Sir Samuel had an interesting life having served with the Duke of Marlborough. His brother became the sixth and last Baronet Lamer (c. 1704 to 1767). Monuments to all six baronets can be found at St Helen's. I photographed this monument several years ago for a lecture on Lamer.

I took this photo quickly at the end of a day's work and I didn't note who this monument was for. Probably one of the Gostwicks.

These three skeletons are 15th century wall paintings in the chapel of Haddon Hall, Derbyshire. They are from the story of the three Kings and the three skeletons: "As you are now, so once were we. As we are now, so you will be."

Detail photograph showing the skull.

Detail of one of the gravestones in Little Munden churchyard showing a skull and crossbones, hourglass, torch and a trumpet, all signs of mortality.

One of tombstones in Little Munden churchyard with a winged cherub at centre, but a stylised skull just below left.