Wednesday 15^th May 2019

Work at Skipton Holy Trinity churchyard resumed today – we were joined by Wendy, a keen and experienced genealogist who has offered to research the people buried here. She came along to see what the churchyard surveying was all about, and seemed to enjoy herself, helping Jennifer, Sue and Peter transcribe inscriptions.

Who knew graveyard surveying could be so much fun?

I found the bright sunshine (what a beautiful spring day it was) was good for photographing some gravestones but awkward for others due to the high contrast it created where there were shadows thrown across them, or the trees above throw down a dappled light.

I started on a new line of ledgers which were completely away from any shadows. All of these were in very good condition with very clear inscriptions.

Jean checking the grave-ID numbers

 At the end of the morning, Jean and Peter had to pack up, so Sue, Jennifer and I made our way up the dale to Conistone-with-Kilnsey to continue our churchyard surveying there. First, we sat down to have our packed lunches and simply enjoyed the glorious sunshine and beautiful, peaceful  surroundings of the Yorkshire Dales. It was lovely to see so many flowers scattered around the churchyard - bluebells, primroses, forget-me-nots, lords-and-ladies, and even a young gooseberry bush!

Eventually we stirred ourselves to get some work done – recording, measuring, examining and photographing a line of memorials on the western edge of the churchyard.  

The glamorous assistant!

We were careful not to disturb the pheasant with her chicks hiding in the grass on the far north side, and we enjoyed several chats with passers-by – walkers and holiday-makers who wandered into the churchyard. One couple were looking for a particular surname and we were able to help them find the 3 gravestones belonging to that family.  

 

Jane Lunnon