skull carvings

Detail of the tombstone to Robert Flack.

A detail from the monument to John Egerton, Second Earl of Bridgewater in the church of St Peter and St Paul, Little Gaddesden, Hertfordshire.

A detail from the monument to John Egerton, Second Earl of Bridgewater in the church of St Peter and St Paul, Little Gaddesden, Hertfordshire.

Minolta 7000, Minolta AF35-105 lens, Fomapan 200 film.

Minolta 7000, Minolta AF35-105 lens, Fomapan 200 film.

Taken about half an hour after the film shots the light had come round to an even better angle. Pentax Q-S1, 02 zoom lens.

Taken about half an hour after the film shots the light had come round to an even better angle. Pentax Q-S1, 02 zoom lens.

This tombstone is in the churchyard of St Helen's, Wheathampstead. I spotted this monument a while back but a tree blocked the sunshine. I've been checking back ever since waiting for the midday sun to be high enough to clear the top of the tree. The inscription reads: Here lyeth the body of Mary CHIPPERFIELD late wife of Robert CHIPPERFIELD who departed this life the 2nd day of May 1712 (Footstone - M C.) The skull is accompanied by an hourglass on its side. Pentax Q-S1, 01 prime lens.

This tombstone is in the churchyard of St Helen's, Wheathampstead. I spotted this monument a while back but a tree blocked the sunshine. I've been checking back ever since waiting for the midday sun to be high enough to clear the top of the tree. The inscription reads: Here lyeth the body of Mary CHIPPERFIELD late wife of Robert CHIPPERFIELD who departed this life the 2nd day of May 1712 (Footstone - M C.) The skull is accompanied by an hourglass on its side. Pentax Q-S1, 01 prime lens.

This monument is in All Saints Church, St Paul's Walden, Hertfordshire. The inscription reads: Nigh to this place ly interred ye bodies of Henry Stapleford Gent: & Dorothy his wife : The said Henry was servant to Queen Elizabeth King Iames and King Charles until ye time Of his death & departed this life ye XXX of May Ano Dni 1631 & aged 76 yeares : Dorothy his wife dyed ye 11th of February Ano Dni 1620 & aged 72 yeares … the said Henry & Dorothy Having issue then & yet living Dorothy married to Henry Henn Esq who had issue Mary who died at ye age of VI months and & lyeth here interred by her grandmother […] Pentax Q-S1, 06 zoom lens.

The figure of the grand-daughter who pre-deceased her parents and grandparents was was buried with them, hold a skull to indicate this. All Saints, St Paul's Walden. Pentax Q-S1, 06 zoom lens.

Seen in the churchyard of St Helen's, Wheathampstead. Here lyeth the body of William Lawrance, son of John and Ann Lawrance of this parish (Gerish states Feb 5 1729) Pentax Q-S1 and the 01 prime lens.

Detail from the tombstone of William Lawrance. Pentax Q-S1, 01 prime.

This gravestone is leaning forward at a steep angle so I had to lie on the ground and use a off-camera flash and a radio trigger to photograph it. Pentax K-3, SMC Pentax "K" 35mm f/3.5 lens.

Tombstone to Thomas Humberstone in the churchyard of St Mary's, Knebworth (HMI P251). He died in 1708 aged 38, just four years after another Thomas Humberstone who died in 1704, aged 86. Perhaps Thomas was Thomas' son or grandson? Zeiss Super Ikonta IV, Kodak Ektar 100 film.

Tombstone of Richard Crouch in the churchyard of St Helen's, Wheathampstead. The photo was taken with an off-camera flash. Pentax K-3, SMC Pentax "K" 35mm f/3.5.

Tombstone of Richard Crouch in the churchyard of St Helen's, Wheathampstead. The photo was taken with an off-camera flash. Pentax K-3, SMC Pentax "K" 35mm f/3.5.

All Saints Church, St Paul's Walden. Pentax Q-S1, 01 prime lens.