A Leicestershire tombstone in Rickmansworth churchyard

Image: © Stefan Czapski Taken: 28 Apr 2013

Anyone who knows Leicestershire villages such as Breedon on the Hill http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/288014 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1062826 or Croxton Kerrial may well recognise the style of this mid-19th century slate tombstone. The grave is that of 'John Morley, late of Rickmansworth, native of Staunton Harold in the county of Leicester, who died April 11th 1851' - and also of his wife, Mary-Ann. The stone is signed at the bottom: 'ALLT, Breedon, Leicestershire'. Slate was quarried in the Swithland area, and was used for tombstones not only in Leicestershire but in neighbouring counties (e.g. at St Wulfram's, Grantham). Slate carves very crisply, and seems to weather very little in 160 years - so inscriptions are often far more legible than on other stones of similar date. In this case, the epitaph reads: 'Stay, mortal, stay, as you go alone, One moment stay, to read this stone: Death did to us short warning give: Therefore be careful how you live.'

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