Some of the most obvious records to be found in Northamptonshire are those inscribed on tombstones. Almost every churchyard contains a substantial number, recording much information about individuals and families who are no longer with us.
Sadly, many of the monuments that were carved on materials such as limestone have not weathered well. After a hundred years or so in the open air, their messages become hard to read, the more so if streaks of iron are present or lichen has colonised the surfaces.
But all is not lost. Slate tombstones can be some of the most durable of historical records as well as often displaying exquisite artistry. Those who made them and the material they used also have stories of its own.
‘Gazetteer of East Midlands slate gravestone masons and engravers’ (PDF) by Bob Trubshaw features information about a large number of craftsmen whose creations can be found in about 300 named locations, 40 of these being in Northamptonshire. An introduction fully explains the background and extent of the survey.
For those interested in when and how slate was transported from Charnwood in Leicestershire to be used as tombstones in Northamptonshire, the places to look are Appendixes One and Two of Conversations in Graveyards (PDF) - another paper composed by the same author.
Thank you to Bob Trubshaw for kindly sharing both these works as PDFs free of charge.
The picture is from Welford churchyard.