Ling family memorial, West Ham Cemetery

Image: © Marathon Taken: 14 Jan 2015

West Ham Cemetery was established by the West Ham Burial Board in 1857 and was extended in 1871. Good drainage and low cost were considered more important than the landscape potential when the land was purchased. As a result the cemetery is rather lacking in distinctive features and has a straightforward grid of paths. This monument is to William Ling ("founder of W.Ling Ltd") who died May 27th 1925 aged 82 and also to his wife Elizabeth who died 31st March 1911 aged 67. On the side nearest the photograph are commemorated their children who mostly died young. They were Elizabeth Selina died 10th February 1875 aged 20 months, William died 17th April 1877 aged 16 months, and William, John died 22nd October 1879 aged 19 months. Also included is "their beloved daughter Sarah Ann Robins" who died on Christmas Day 1924 aged 52. It is clear that looking at the ages of the children the father wanted his eldest son to be called William like himself and when the first son called William, died in 1877 the next son born a year later was also called William. Sadly he fared little better, dying 19 months later.

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