Rosie Rowley
@thehistoryspy.bsky.social
Formerly MaccHistorian. Love genealogy, birdwatching, trains, knitting.... So many hobbies, so little time.... from the Isle of Ely (not an island!), now living in Cheshire, England
#31daysofgraves 31: Memento Mori - not exactly Memento Mori but I wanted to include this one, in plot 3-219, #Macclesfield Cemetery. Brings tears to my eyes every time I read it. Transcription in alt text. Unusually, no dates of death are given but Ida died in 1993 and Albert in 1996.
October 31, 2025 at 10:49 AM
#31daysofgraves 31: Memento Mori - not exactly Memento Mori but I wanted to include this one, in plot 3-219, #Macclesfield Cemetery. Brings tears to my eyes every time I read it. Transcription in alt text. Unusually, no dates of death are given but Ida died in 1993 and Albert in 1996.
#31DaysOfGraves 29: Occupation - At #Prestbury St Peter's, near #Macclesfield, gravestone to the memory of John T Nicolson, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Manchester University and his wife Margaret. They lived in Marple in 1911; two sons, Gilbert and Frank, were born in Montreal, Canada.
October 29, 2025 at 11:10 AM
#31DaysOfGraves 29: Occupation - At #Prestbury St Peter's, near #Macclesfield, gravestone to the memory of John T Nicolson, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Manchester University and his wife Margaret. They lived in Marple in 1911; two sons, Gilbert and Frank, were born in Montreal, Canada.
#31DaysOfGraves 28: Column - #Macclesfield's Park Green War Memorial, originally dedicated to over 700 men who died in #WWI. #WWII names & 5 who died in other conflicts were later added. 50 men and 3 women omitted from the WWI columns were added in 2023. www.cheshireroll.co.uk/war-memorial...
October 28, 2025 at 10:49 AM
#31DaysOfGraves 28: Column - #Macclesfield's Park Green War Memorial, originally dedicated to over 700 men who died in #WWI. #WWII names & 5 who died in other conflicts were later added. 50 men and 3 women omitted from the WWI columns were added in 2023. www.cheshireroll.co.uk/war-memorial...
#31DaysofGraves Day 27: Tree - the stump of a tree which fell or had to be cut down in #Macclesfield Cemetery carved into a lovely wren scupture, photo taken in 2018 when it was fairly new (you may have to click on the image to see the wren?)
October 27, 2025 at 10:19 AM
#31DaysofGraves Day 27: Tree - the stump of a tree which fell or had to be cut down in #Macclesfield Cemetery carved into a lovely wren scupture, photo taken in 2018 when it was fairly new (you may have to click on the image to see the wren?)
#31DaysOfGraves 26: Figure - a rather erotic reclining female figure on the gravestone of "Eliza Crow, her professional name Madam Warton, who died Jan 27th 1854, aged 27 yrs. This tablet raised to her memory by a dear and sincere friend Arthur Nelson" ...
October 26, 2025 at 3:09 PM
#31DaysOfGraves 26: Figure - a rather erotic reclining female figure on the gravestone of "Eliza Crow, her professional name Madam Warton, who died Jan 27th 1854, aged 27 yrs. This tablet raised to her memory by a dear and sincere friend Arthur Nelson" ...
#31DaysOfGraves 25: Graveside ornament - a memorial in #Macclesfield Cemetery to Ian Curtis, lead singer of 1970s band Joy Division. Fans leave a myriad of items by the stone. "Love will tear us apart" is a song by Curtis released a month after his suicide in 1980 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Cur...
October 25, 2025 at 10:07 AM
#31DaysOfGraves 25: Graveside ornament - a memorial in #Macclesfield Cemetery to Ian Curtis, lead singer of 1970s band Joy Division. Fans leave a myriad of items by the stone. "Love will tear us apart" is a song by Curtis released a month after his suicide in 1980 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Cur...
#31DaysofGraves 24: Unique Animal - I don't have any photos of animals on gravestones so here is one of my great-grandfather, Albert William BULL, of Hitcham, Suffolk; he died in 1912 aged 54 when travelling home by horse & cart and fell off the cart shafts when the horse began to trot....
October 24, 2025 at 3:41 PM
#31DaysofGraves 24: Unique Animal - I don't have any photos of animals on gravestones so here is one of my great-grandfather, Albert William BULL, of Hitcham, Suffolk; he died in 1912 aged 54 when travelling home by horse & cart and fell off the cart shafts when the horse began to trot....
#31daysofgraves 23: cross - a very beautiful and rather elaborate Celtic cross in #Macclesfield cemetery, erected in memory of Thomas John Donohue (died 1927), his wife Sarah (died 1960) and their daughter Elsie Margaret Donohue M.A. (died 1983 aged 91)
October 23, 2025 at 4:02 PM
#31daysofgraves 23: cross - a very beautiful and rather elaborate Celtic cross in #Macclesfield cemetery, erected in memory of Thomas John Donohue (died 1927), his wife Sarah (died 1960) and their daughter Elsie Margaret Donohue M.A. (died 1983 aged 91)
#31DaysOfGraves 22: landscape - Azmak Cemetery, where Walter Bancroft of #Macclesfield was buried in 1915 #WWI sent by the Imperial War Graves Commission (now the Commonwealth War Graves Commission) to his family www.cheshireroll.co.uk/soldier/?i=8... @cheshire1418.bsky.social @cwgc.bsky.social
October 22, 2025 at 10:14 AM
#31DaysOfGraves 22: landscape - Azmak Cemetery, where Walter Bancroft of #Macclesfield was buried in 1915 #WWI sent by the Imperial War Graves Commission (now the Commonwealth War Graves Commission) to his family www.cheshireroll.co.uk/soldier/?i=8... @cheshire1418.bsky.social @cwgc.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves 21: Bronze/Brass - Mill St Mission #WWI war memorial, the only WWI memorial in #Macclesfield with a woman's name - nurse Sarah Wiggin (spelt Wiggins!), who died of pneumonia in Preston on 2 Nov 1918. Among others is George Pickering, died 1917 www.cheshireroll.co.uk/soldier/?i=1...
October 21, 2025 at 3:47 PM
#31DaysOfGraves 21: Bronze/Brass - Mill St Mission #WWI war memorial, the only WWI memorial in #Macclesfield with a woman's name - nurse Sarah Wiggin (spelt Wiggins!), who died of pneumonia in Preston on 2 Nov 1918. Among others is George Pickering, died 1917 www.cheshireroll.co.uk/soldier/?i=1...
#31DaysofGraves 20: Wreath - the grave of Francis Walton in plot J8453, the first casualty of #WWI to be buried in #Macclesfield Cemetery, featuring a military cap surrounded by a wreath www.cheshireroll.co.uk/soldier/?i=3... @cheshire1418.bsky.social
October 20, 2025 at 10:38 AM
#31DaysofGraves 20: Wreath - the grave of Francis Walton in plot J8453, the first casualty of #WWI to be buried in #Macclesfield Cemetery, featuring a military cap surrounded by a wreath www.cheshireroll.co.uk/soldier/?i=3... @cheshire1418.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGravestones 19: #SocialGroup - five #WWI CWGC gravestones in Plot X, #Macclesfield cemetery, for James Campbell (d 5 Jun 1918), George Davies (d 14 Feb 1917), Herbert West (d 15 Jan 1919), Arthur Shaw (d 29 May 1919) and Joseph Murphy (d 3 Jun 1917) www.cheshireroll.co.uk/soldier/?i=9...
October 19, 2025 at 10:45 AM
#31DaysOfGravestones 19: #SocialGroup - five #WWI CWGC gravestones in Plot X, #Macclesfield cemetery, for James Campbell (d 5 Jun 1918), George Davies (d 14 Feb 1917), Herbert West (d 15 Jan 1919), Arthur Shaw (d 29 May 1919) and Joseph Murphy (d 3 Jun 1917) www.cheshireroll.co.uk/soldier/?i=9...
#31DaysOfGraves 16 and 17 - Obelisk Relocated: A panel from an obelisk which stood outside Christ Church, #Macclesfield but was destroyed by vandals in the 1960s. It commemorates Charles Roe (1715-1781), a local industrialist who commissioned the church. www.christchurchmacc.co.uk/charles-roe
October 17, 2025 at 9:34 AM
#31DaysOfGraves 16 and 17 - Obelisk Relocated: A panel from an obelisk which stood outside Christ Church, #Macclesfield but was destroyed by vandals in the 1960s. It commemorates Charles Roe (1715-1781), a local industrialist who commissioned the church. www.christchurchmacc.co.uk/charles-roe
#31DaysOfGraves 15 Damage: the gravestone of the family of Horace Arthur Seel in plot A398 in #Macclesfield cemetery, on which it records that he was "killed in Gallipoli December 7th 1915 aged 19 years" www.cheshireroll.co.uk/soldier/?i=2...
October 15, 2025 at 6:23 PM
#31DaysOfGraves 15 Damage: the gravestone of the family of Horace Arthur Seel in plot A398 in #Macclesfield cemetery, on which it records that he was "killed in Gallipoli December 7th 1915 aged 19 years" www.cheshireroll.co.uk/soldier/?i=2...
#31DaysOfGraves 14 Inside: In Hockering church, Norfolk, is a plaque to the memory of James Jolley, rector of the parish from 1925 until his death in 1942. He was a distant relative of my husband who has Yorkshire roots, and by a strange coincidence my husband's daughter now lives in the village!
October 14, 2025 at 3:24 PM
#31DaysOfGraves 14 Inside: In Hockering church, Norfolk, is a plaque to the memory of James Jolley, rector of the parish from 1925 until his death in 1942. He was a distant relative of my husband who has Yorkshire roots, and by a strange coincidence my husband's daughter now lives in the village!
#31DaysOfGraves 12: Notable woman - Florence Wallace-Watson, emigrated to Canada, sailed on the ill-fated Lusitania and drowned when it was sunk by a #WWI German submarine on 7 May 1915. She was going to #Macclesfield for her parents golden wedding. Buried Sutton St James near #Macclesfield
October 12, 2025 at 11:30 AM
#31DaysOfGraves 12: Notable woman - Florence Wallace-Watson, emigrated to Canada, sailed on the ill-fated Lusitania and drowned when it was sunk by a #WWI German submarine on 7 May 1915. She was going to #Macclesfield for her parents golden wedding. Buried Sutton St James near #Macclesfield
#31DaysOfGraves Day 11: Military - hard to choose as most of my photos are of military gravestones and war memorials! Decided this is one of the most poignant headstones in #Macclesfield Cemetery. A family of seven children and their parents; poor Mary Ann lost her husband and all her children...
October 11, 2025 at 10:33 AM
#31DaysOfGraves Day 11: Military - hard to choose as most of my photos are of military gravestones and war memorials! Decided this is one of the most poignant headstones in #Macclesfield Cemetery. A family of seven children and their parents; poor Mary Ann lost her husband and all her children...
#31DaysOfGraves Day 10: Urn - 2 for the price of 1! The grave of Lily & Maggie Gaskell, plot M9721 in #Macclesfield Cemetery, with an urn on top; in the background another urn, plot M9725, the grave of Joseph (1817-1895) & Mary (1826-1895) Brocklehurst & family; Mary died just 5 days after Joseph
October 10, 2025 at 11:02 AM
#31DaysOfGraves Day 10: Urn - 2 for the price of 1! The grave of Lily & Maggie Gaskell, plot M9721 in #Macclesfield Cemetery, with an urn on top; in the background another urn, plot M9725, the grave of Joseph (1817-1895) & Mary (1826-1895) Brocklehurst & family; Mary died just 5 days after Joseph
#31DaysOfGraves Day 8: Glass - stained glass window in St Michael's Church, #Macclesfield designed by Morris & Co, dedicated to Lt John Close-Brooks, 1st Bn Life Guards, kia 30 Oct 1914 #WWI @cheshire1418.bsky.social www.cheshireroll.co.uk/soldier/?i=1...
October 8, 2025 at 9:54 AM
#31DaysOfGraves Day 8: Glass - stained glass window in St Michael's Church, #Macclesfield designed by Morris & Co, dedicated to Lt John Close-Brooks, 1st Bn Life Guards, kia 30 Oct 1914 #WWI @cheshire1418.bsky.social www.cheshireroll.co.uk/soldier/?i=1...
#31daysofgraves Day 6: gender - Maggie & Lily Gaskell, plot M9721, #Macclesfield cemetery, died while serving at 2nd Western General Hospital, Manchester. As women, they were not recognised as CWGC war casualties until we submitted evidence. www.cwgc.org/find-records... www.cwgc.org/find-records...
October 6, 2025 at 12:55 PM
#31daysofgraves Day 6: gender - Maggie & Lily Gaskell, plot M9721, #Macclesfield cemetery, died while serving at 2nd Western General Hospital, Manchester. As women, they were not recognised as CWGC war casualties until we submitted evidence. www.cwgc.org/find-records... www.cwgc.org/find-records...
#31DaysofGraves Day 5: Bird - no bird imagery but remembered on his parents' gravestone in plot X15355 in #Macclesfield Cemetery is Eddie Woodcock of the New Zealand Army Service Corps, kia #WWI 20 Sept 1916 www.cheshireroll.co.uk/soldier/?i=1...
October 5, 2025 at 10:56 AM
#31DaysofGraves Day 5: Bird - no bird imagery but remembered on his parents' gravestone in plot X15355 in #Macclesfield Cemetery is Eddie Woodcock of the New Zealand Army Service Corps, kia #WWI 20 Sept 1916 www.cheshireroll.co.uk/soldier/?i=1...
#31DaysOfGraves Day 4: Languages - The original gravestone of Henri Thoremans who served with the Belgian Army in #WWI and buried in #Macclesfield cemetery in 1918, plot JJ21393. @cheshire1418.bsky.social www.cheshireroll.co.uk/soldier/?i=3...
October 4, 2025 at 12:59 PM
#31DaysOfGraves Day 4: Languages - The original gravestone of Henri Thoremans who served with the Belgian Army in #WWI and buried in #Macclesfield cemetery in 1918, plot JJ21393. @cheshire1418.bsky.social www.cheshireroll.co.uk/soldier/?i=3...
#31DaysOfGraves Day 3: Tomb - The tomb of Thomas Lawton in plot A53 of #Macclesfield Cemetery. Behind it in plot A223 is the grave of Ellen and David Barratt with a memorial to their son Cyril, killed in action #WWI 4 Sept 1916 @cheshire1418.bsky.social www.cheshireroll.co.uk/soldier/?i=8...
October 4, 2025 at 12:41 PM
#31DaysOfGraves Day 3: Tomb - The tomb of Thomas Lawton in plot A53 of #Macclesfield Cemetery. Behind it in plot A223 is the grave of Ellen and David Barratt with a memorial to their son Cyril, killed in action #WWI 4 Sept 1916 @cheshire1418.bsky.social www.cheshireroll.co.uk/soldier/?i=8...
#31DaysOfGraves Day 1 Flower - two columns of flowers and foliage adorn the gravestone of John Millward, husband of Sarah and father of James William who was killed in action Oct 2 1918. Plot Y16884, Macclesfield Cemetery www.cheshireroll.co.uk/soldier/?i=2...
October 3, 2025 at 7:57 PM
#31DaysOfGraves Day 1 Flower - two columns of flowers and foliage adorn the gravestone of John Millward, husband of Sarah and father of James William who was killed in action Oct 2 1918. Plot Y16884, Macclesfield Cemetery www.cheshireroll.co.uk/soldier/?i=2...
@familytreeplus.bsky.social @ancestryhour.bsky.social @chiddickstree.bsky.social Some nostalgia for you - sorting through my mum's cupboards and came across these first editions of Yesterday and Practical Family History from the 1990s!
March 11, 2025 at 6:28 PM
@familytreeplus.bsky.social @ancestryhour.bsky.social @chiddickstree.bsky.social Some nostalgia for you - sorting through my mum's cupboards and came across these first editions of Yesterday and Practical Family History from the 1990s!