Norma Explores
@normaexplores.bsky.social
Slowly travelling the back roads of rural Britain finding stories from local history, folklore, people stories from our military past. (Posts by Rosie, Norma is a campervan and doesn't have opposable thumbs 🤳)
Day 26 #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'figure'
Sadly, this headstone is so badly worn its impossible to make out who lies here. Only the figure remains standing proud of the surface...
📍Holy Trinity, Marham, Norfolk
Sadly, this headstone is so badly worn its impossible to make out who lies here. Only the figure remains standing proud of the surface...
📍Holy Trinity, Marham, Norfolk
October 26, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Day 26 #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'figure'
Sadly, this headstone is so badly worn its impossible to make out who lies here. Only the figure remains standing proud of the surface...
📍Holy Trinity, Marham, Norfolk
Sadly, this headstone is so badly worn its impossible to make out who lies here. Only the figure remains standing proud of the surface...
📍Holy Trinity, Marham, Norfolk
Day 25 #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'graveside ornament'
I wanted to share this wonderful thing I found earlier this year. Every war grave has been marked with a Tommy silhouette, even the ones without a headstone. It really highlighted just how many WW1 & WW2 casualties lay here ⬇️⬇️
I wanted to share this wonderful thing I found earlier this year. Every war grave has been marked with a Tommy silhouette, even the ones without a headstone. It really highlighted just how many WW1 & WW2 casualties lay here ⬇️⬇️
October 25, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Day 25 #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'graveside ornament'
I wanted to share this wonderful thing I found earlier this year. Every war grave has been marked with a Tommy silhouette, even the ones without a headstone. It really highlighted just how many WW1 & WW2 casualties lay here ⬇️⬇️
I wanted to share this wonderful thing I found earlier this year. Every war grave has been marked with a Tommy silhouette, even the ones without a headstone. It really highlighted just how many WW1 & WW2 casualties lay here ⬇️⬇️
Day 24 #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'unique animal'. Ive taken a bit of a liberty and chosen a reptile 🐢 But I couldn't not share this wonderful tortoise.
📍St John the Baptist, Aylmerton, Norfolk
📍St John the Baptist, Aylmerton, Norfolk
October 24, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Day 24 #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'unique animal'. Ive taken a bit of a liberty and chosen a reptile 🐢 But I couldn't not share this wonderful tortoise.
📍St John the Baptist, Aylmerton, Norfolk
📍St John the Baptist, Aylmerton, Norfolk
Day 23 #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'cross'
It was Christmas Eve when I visited the grave of Fanny Adams. It was also Christmas Eve in 1867 when her murderer was hanged for his crime.
Her cross was decorated with tinsel and toys had been left for her.
Cont ⬇️⬇️
It was Christmas Eve when I visited the grave of Fanny Adams. It was also Christmas Eve in 1867 when her murderer was hanged for his crime.
Her cross was decorated with tinsel and toys had been left for her.
Cont ⬇️⬇️
October 23, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Day 23 #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'cross'
It was Christmas Eve when I visited the grave of Fanny Adams. It was also Christmas Eve in 1867 when her murderer was hanged for his crime.
Her cross was decorated with tinsel and toys had been left for her.
Cont ⬇️⬇️
It was Christmas Eve when I visited the grave of Fanny Adams. It was also Christmas Eve in 1867 when her murderer was hanged for his crime.
Her cross was decorated with tinsel and toys had been left for her.
Cont ⬇️⬇️
Day 22 #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'landscape '
The tiny church of Kirkmaiden, perched on the cliffs on the South West cost of Scotland. Probably one of the prettiest places to be laid to rest 😍
I have shared below a short about one of the burials there ⬇️
The tiny church of Kirkmaiden, perched on the cliffs on the South West cost of Scotland. Probably one of the prettiest places to be laid to rest 😍
I have shared below a short about one of the burials there ⬇️
October 22, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Day 22 #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'landscape '
The tiny church of Kirkmaiden, perched on the cliffs on the South West cost of Scotland. Probably one of the prettiest places to be laid to rest 😍
I have shared below a short about one of the burials there ⬇️
The tiny church of Kirkmaiden, perched on the cliffs on the South West cost of Scotland. Probably one of the prettiest places to be laid to rest 😍
I have shared below a short about one of the burials there ⬇️
Day 21 #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'bronze'.
An unexpected find in a Somerset cemetery. The grave belongs to Lt Col John Marshall Field MBE.
📍East Coker cemetery, Somerset
📷⬇️
An unexpected find in a Somerset cemetery. The grave belongs to Lt Col John Marshall Field MBE.
📍East Coker cemetery, Somerset
📷⬇️
October 21, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Day 21 #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'bronze'.
An unexpected find in a Somerset cemetery. The grave belongs to Lt Col John Marshall Field MBE.
📍East Coker cemetery, Somerset
📷⬇️
An unexpected find in a Somerset cemetery. The grave belongs to Lt Col John Marshall Field MBE.
📍East Coker cemetery, Somerset
📷⬇️
Day 20 #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'Wreath'
This lovely fruity Wreath is up on the wall inside the parish church and remembers Edward Bunting Loynes - church warden for 54 years.
📍St Nicholas, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk
This lovely fruity Wreath is up on the wall inside the parish church and remembers Edward Bunting Loynes - church warden for 54 years.
📍St Nicholas, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk
October 20, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Day 20 #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'Wreath'
This lovely fruity Wreath is up on the wall inside the parish church and remembers Edward Bunting Loynes - church warden for 54 years.
📍St Nicholas, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk
This lovely fruity Wreath is up on the wall inside the parish church and remembers Edward Bunting Loynes - church warden for 54 years.
📍St Nicholas, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk
Day 19 #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'Social Group'.
I dont know anything about this grave marker, but I like it.
📍All Saints, Faringdon, Oxfordshire
I dont know anything about this grave marker, but I like it.
📍All Saints, Faringdon, Oxfordshire
October 20, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Day 19 #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'Social Group'.
I dont know anything about this grave marker, but I like it.
📍All Saints, Faringdon, Oxfordshire
I dont know anything about this grave marker, but I like it.
📍All Saints, Faringdon, Oxfordshire
Reposted by Norma Explores
Why do so many medieval church doors have iron studs on their exterior face?
1/7
📷 - All Images of South Door at St Mary's, Derwen, Denbighshire
1/7
📷 - All Images of South Door at St Mary's, Derwen, Denbighshire
October 18, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Why do so many medieval church doors have iron studs on their exterior face?
1/7
📷 - All Images of South Door at St Mary's, Derwen, Denbighshire
1/7
📷 - All Images of South Door at St Mary's, Derwen, Denbighshire
Reposted by Norma Explores
There are rows and rows of Guinea Graves at Beckett Street Cemetery in Leeds. If a poor family could find a guinea (21 shillings) they could have a shared grave with an inscription of up to 36 letters. It was half price for under 7's. /1
#31daysofgraves
#31daysofgraves
October 18, 2025 at 11:38 AM
There are rows and rows of Guinea Graves at Beckett Street Cemetery in Leeds. If a poor family could find a guinea (21 shillings) they could have a shared grave with an inscription of up to 36 letters. It was half price for under 7's. /1
#31daysofgraves
#31daysofgraves
Day 18 #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'mistake'
A smugglers headstone today to Robert Debney and William Cooper, who died in an unfortunate accident on 22 June 1778.
The mistake is that the headstone notes the men as being 28 and 18 respectively, but parish records show Debney was 30.
🧵⬇️⬇️
A smugglers headstone today to Robert Debney and William Cooper, who died in an unfortunate accident on 22 June 1778.
The mistake is that the headstone notes the men as being 28 and 18 respectively, but parish records show Debney was 30.
🧵⬇️⬇️
October 18, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Day 18 #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'mistake'
A smugglers headstone today to Robert Debney and William Cooper, who died in an unfortunate accident on 22 June 1778.
The mistake is that the headstone notes the men as being 28 and 18 respectively, but parish records show Debney was 30.
🧵⬇️⬇️
A smugglers headstone today to Robert Debney and William Cooper, who died in an unfortunate accident on 22 June 1778.
The mistake is that the headstone notes the men as being 28 and 18 respectively, but parish records show Debney was 30.
🧵⬇️⬇️
Day 17 #31DaysOfGraves is 'relocated'
I've chosen a very old one today. Two Roman coffins, discovered in 1815, which now sit outside of the Norris Museum in St Ives (Huntingdonshire)
I've chosen a very old one today. Two Roman coffins, discovered in 1815, which now sit outside of the Norris Museum in St Ives (Huntingdonshire)
October 17, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Day 17 #31DaysOfGraves is 'relocated'
I've chosen a very old one today. Two Roman coffins, discovered in 1815, which now sit outside of the Norris Museum in St Ives (Huntingdonshire)
I've chosen a very old one today. Two Roman coffins, discovered in 1815, which now sit outside of the Norris Museum in St Ives (Huntingdonshire)
Our Epitaph: East Anglia podcast relaunched today!
Episode one available on Spotify, YouTube, Substack, and probably some places Ive never heard of!
open.spotify.com/episode/5rGH...
Episode one available on Spotify, YouTube, Substack, and probably some places Ive never heard of!
open.spotify.com/episode/5rGH...
Epitaph : East Anglia // Episode One - Peasenhall, Suffolk
open.spotify.com
October 17, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Our Epitaph: East Anglia podcast relaunched today!
Episode one available on Spotify, YouTube, Substack, and probably some places Ive never heard of!
open.spotify.com/episode/5rGH...
Episode one available on Spotify, YouTube, Substack, and probably some places Ive never heard of!
open.spotify.com/episode/5rGH...
Reposted by Norma Explores
Day 16 of #31DaysOfGraves - Obelisk
"REMOVED in the midst of his USEFULNESS.
READER be ye also ready"
A cheery warning about the fleeting nature of life on Alexander Cowper's obelisk monument in Wigtown Kirkyard in Dumfries and Galloway.
"REMOVED in the midst of his USEFULNESS.
READER be ye also ready"
A cheery warning about the fleeting nature of life on Alexander Cowper's obelisk monument in Wigtown Kirkyard in Dumfries and Galloway.
October 16, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Day 16 of #31DaysOfGraves - Obelisk
"REMOVED in the midst of his USEFULNESS.
READER be ye also ready"
A cheery warning about the fleeting nature of life on Alexander Cowper's obelisk monument in Wigtown Kirkyard in Dumfries and Galloway.
"REMOVED in the midst of his USEFULNESS.
READER be ye also ready"
A cheery warning about the fleeting nature of life on Alexander Cowper's obelisk monument in Wigtown Kirkyard in Dumfries and Galloway.
Day 16 #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'obelisk'
The plaque reads 'Sacred to the memory if Henry Nicholas Ground ME of East Howle Colliery. Who died 11th March 1881, aged 31.
Erected as a tribute of respect to his memory by the workmen and friends.'
📍Found in St Lukes, Ferryhill, Co. Durham.
The plaque reads 'Sacred to the memory if Henry Nicholas Ground ME of East Howle Colliery. Who died 11th March 1881, aged 31.
Erected as a tribute of respect to his memory by the workmen and friends.'
📍Found in St Lukes, Ferryhill, Co. Durham.
October 16, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Day 16 #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'obelisk'
The plaque reads 'Sacred to the memory if Henry Nicholas Ground ME of East Howle Colliery. Who died 11th March 1881, aged 31.
Erected as a tribute of respect to his memory by the workmen and friends.'
📍Found in St Lukes, Ferryhill, Co. Durham.
The plaque reads 'Sacred to the memory if Henry Nicholas Ground ME of East Howle Colliery. Who died 11th March 1881, aged 31.
Erected as a tribute of respect to his memory by the workmen and friends.'
📍Found in St Lukes, Ferryhill, Co. Durham.
Day 15 #31DaysOfGraves is 'damaged'.
I've chosen this ceramic headstone, one of many in this style in the cemetery.
It belongs to Pvt Joseph Gale of the Royal Sussex Regiment. He died in Eastbourne Hospital on March 30th 1916, aged just 24. A casualty of the Great War.
📍South Hetton, Co Durham
I've chosen this ceramic headstone, one of many in this style in the cemetery.
It belongs to Pvt Joseph Gale of the Royal Sussex Regiment. He died in Eastbourne Hospital on March 30th 1916, aged just 24. A casualty of the Great War.
📍South Hetton, Co Durham
October 15, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Day 15 #31DaysOfGraves is 'damaged'.
I've chosen this ceramic headstone, one of many in this style in the cemetery.
It belongs to Pvt Joseph Gale of the Royal Sussex Regiment. He died in Eastbourne Hospital on March 30th 1916, aged just 24. A casualty of the Great War.
📍South Hetton, Co Durham
I've chosen this ceramic headstone, one of many in this style in the cemetery.
It belongs to Pvt Joseph Gale of the Royal Sussex Regiment. He died in Eastbourne Hospital on March 30th 1916, aged just 24. A casualty of the Great War.
📍South Hetton, Co Durham
Day 14 of #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'inside'
Not an intentional interior viewing of this collapsed vault, photographed last year.
📍St Thomas a Becket, Ramsey, Huntingdonshire.
Not an intentional interior viewing of this collapsed vault, photographed last year.
📍St Thomas a Becket, Ramsey, Huntingdonshire.
October 14, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Day 14 of #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'inside'
Not an intentional interior viewing of this collapsed vault, photographed last year.
📍St Thomas a Becket, Ramsey, Huntingdonshire.
Not an intentional interior viewing of this collapsed vault, photographed last year.
📍St Thomas a Becket, Ramsey, Huntingdonshire.
Day 13 of #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'skeleton'
Today, we are at the grave of George Hopper. The tomb has some fantastic carvings, but beware! It is said that if you see Death's scythe move, you will follow George to the other side! ☠️
📍 St Mary's, Barnard Castle, County Durham.
Today, we are at the grave of George Hopper. The tomb has some fantastic carvings, but beware! It is said that if you see Death's scythe move, you will follow George to the other side! ☠️
📍 St Mary's, Barnard Castle, County Durham.
October 13, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Day 13 of #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'skeleton'
Today, we are at the grave of George Hopper. The tomb has some fantastic carvings, but beware! It is said that if you see Death's scythe move, you will follow George to the other side! ☠️
📍 St Mary's, Barnard Castle, County Durham.
Today, we are at the grave of George Hopper. The tomb has some fantastic carvings, but beware! It is said that if you see Death's scythe move, you will follow George to the other side! ☠️
📍 St Mary's, Barnard Castle, County Durham.
Day 12 #31DaysOfGraves is Notable Women.
I'm sharing one of my favourite effigies.The reclining figure of Rose Claxton, who died in 1601, aged just 23.
📌 St George's Church, Rollesby ▪︎ Norfolk
I'm sharing one of my favourite effigies.The reclining figure of Rose Claxton, who died in 1601, aged just 23.
📌 St George's Church, Rollesby ▪︎ Norfolk
October 12, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Day 12 #31DaysOfGraves is Notable Women.
I'm sharing one of my favourite effigies.The reclining figure of Rose Claxton, who died in 1601, aged just 23.
📌 St George's Church, Rollesby ▪︎ Norfolk
I'm sharing one of my favourite effigies.The reclining figure of Rose Claxton, who died in 1601, aged just 23.
📌 St George's Church, Rollesby ▪︎ Norfolk
Its day 11 of #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is military.
This was always going to be a difficult one. I primarily record military graves and have almost 10,000 photographed.
Their stories are all worth telling, so I decided to select one for aesthetics.
Cont.... ⬇️⬇️⬇️
This was always going to be a difficult one. I primarily record military graves and have almost 10,000 photographed.
Their stories are all worth telling, so I decided to select one for aesthetics.
Cont.... ⬇️⬇️⬇️
October 11, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Its day 11 of #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is military.
This was always going to be a difficult one. I primarily record military graves and have almost 10,000 photographed.
Their stories are all worth telling, so I decided to select one for aesthetics.
Cont.... ⬇️⬇️⬇️
This was always going to be a difficult one. I primarily record military graves and have almost 10,000 photographed.
Their stories are all worth telling, so I decided to select one for aesthetics.
Cont.... ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Y'know what I dont have pictures of? Urns, apparently. Its day 10 of #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is Urn. After going through about 7000 photos, I came to realise its something I dont photograph 🙈 So please enjoy possibly the only image I have that comes close ⚱️
📍Cottenham Dissenters Cemetery
📍Cottenham Dissenters Cemetery
October 10, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Y'know what I dont have pictures of? Urns, apparently. Its day 10 of #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is Urn. After going through about 7000 photos, I came to realise its something I dont photograph 🙈 So please enjoy possibly the only image I have that comes close ⚱️
📍Cottenham Dissenters Cemetery
📍Cottenham Dissenters Cemetery
Day 9 of #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'hand'.
I've borrowed an image from my side-quest, The Jeevar Archive, today.
The grave is that of Mary Richards. According to local legend she died at the altar, just moments after the wedding ring was placed on her hand as she was being married. 🧵⬇️
I've borrowed an image from my side-quest, The Jeevar Archive, today.
The grave is that of Mary Richards. According to local legend she died at the altar, just moments after the wedding ring was placed on her hand as she was being married. 🧵⬇️
October 9, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Day 9 of #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'hand'.
I've borrowed an image from my side-quest, The Jeevar Archive, today.
The grave is that of Mary Richards. According to local legend she died at the altar, just moments after the wedding ring was placed on her hand as she was being married. 🧵⬇️
I've borrowed an image from my side-quest, The Jeevar Archive, today.
The grave is that of Mary Richards. According to local legend she died at the altar, just moments after the wedding ring was placed on her hand as she was being married. 🧵⬇️
Day 8 of #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'Glass'
Here at St Nicholas' Church, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, the beautiful stained glass window is reflected in the memorial to a son of the town lost in the First World War.
Alfred Gordon Calthrop
2nd Lt 11th Bttn Royal Fusiliers. KIA near Ypres.
Here at St Nicholas' Church, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, the beautiful stained glass window is reflected in the memorial to a son of the town lost in the First World War.
Alfred Gordon Calthrop
2nd Lt 11th Bttn Royal Fusiliers. KIA near Ypres.
October 8, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Day 8 of #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'Glass'
Here at St Nicholas' Church, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, the beautiful stained glass window is reflected in the memorial to a son of the town lost in the First World War.
Alfred Gordon Calthrop
2nd Lt 11th Bttn Royal Fusiliers. KIA near Ypres.
Here at St Nicholas' Church, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, the beautiful stained glass window is reflected in the memorial to a son of the town lost in the First World War.
Alfred Gordon Calthrop
2nd Lt 11th Bttn Royal Fusiliers. KIA near Ypres.
Dovecote
Barnack, Huntingdonshire
-
I dont know exactly where this was or if it is still standing... so if anyone local can enlighten me, I'd be most grateful!! It worldvgave been photographed between 1974 and 1978, I think!
Barnack, Huntingdonshire
-
I dont know exactly where this was or if it is still standing... so if anyone local can enlighten me, I'd be most grateful!! It worldvgave been photographed between 1974 and 1978, I think!
October 8, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Dovecote
Barnack, Huntingdonshire
-
I dont know exactly where this was or if it is still standing... so if anyone local can enlighten me, I'd be most grateful!! It worldvgave been photographed between 1974 and 1978, I think!
Barnack, Huntingdonshire
-
I dont know exactly where this was or if it is still standing... so if anyone local can enlighten me, I'd be most grateful!! It worldvgave been photographed between 1974 and 1978, I think!
Day 7 of #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'Angel'
I've actually chosen three, all from 📍 All Saints, St Ives, Cambridgeshire.
Ive added a close up of the last one, as he's less than angelic looking these days....
I've actually chosen three, all from 📍 All Saints, St Ives, Cambridgeshire.
Ive added a close up of the last one, as he's less than angelic looking these days....
October 7, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Day 7 of #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'Angel'
I've actually chosen three, all from 📍 All Saints, St Ives, Cambridgeshire.
Ive added a close up of the last one, as he's less than angelic looking these days....
I've actually chosen three, all from 📍 All Saints, St Ives, Cambridgeshire.
Ive added a close up of the last one, as he's less than angelic looking these days....