Grave-board under a yew tree, Ewhurst churchyard

Image: © Stefan Czapski Taken: 30 Mar 2016

Wooden grave-boards are not uncommon in Surrey, and I've seen them elsewhere in the Home Counties (for instance, at Baldock). But more often than not what you find are heavily restored boards - or frank replacements (as at Mickleham). I hadn't explored this churchyard before and it came as a surprise to find a number of 'original' unrestored boards - albeit in various stages of decrepitude. The inscriptions they once carried had weathered away without trace - as they would do, inevitably, if not repainted every few years. This one, under its yew tree, was one of the more complete examples - sufficiently complete to give a fair idea as to original design and construction. I can't claim to know anything of the history of grave-boards, but here in the Weald where timber was abundant (and local stone scarce) their use could stretch back many centuries, poorly documented. The lack of suitable local stone means that cast-iron grave-markers, too, are fairly common in Surrey and Sussex.

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