Welwyn Archaeological Society
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welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
Welwyn Archaeological Society
@welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
600 followers 220 following 520 posts
The Society's Blue Sky feed run by the Director with an interest in all things archaeological especially archaeological method, geophysics and fieldwork. Have been known to publish a few things on coins and stats too. Always looking for speakers!
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welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
Spoke to the Baconian Club of St Albans last night on "Recent Surveys by the Community Archaeology Geophysics Group." They were a very welcoming group, and asked a lot of excellent questions. We had 40 minutes of discussion! Many thanks to Brenda for a lovely supper and Ellen for driving me there.
Monument to Francis Bacon showing him sitting in a chair with his head propped on one hand. Underneath are inscription carved into black marble.
November 16, 2025 at 7:39 AM
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
Ahhh the memories! Here is me giving a guided tour of Phil Barker's excavations when I was 18 in 1983. #Wroxeter #Shropshire #RomanArchaeology #excavation
A young archaeologist in a blue hat carrying a ranging rod is talk to a group of visitors on the right edge of the photograph. Behind him on the left edge is the Old Work, a large piece of surviving Roman wall. In the foreground bottom left is a bearded man with a "killer spray" on his back dampening down some of the features.
November 9, 2025 at 7:59 AM
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
2/2 Many thanks to anyone who has followed my 31 postings. It has been fun going through my collection of #tombstone photographs. I couldn't resist a 2nd #MementoMori photo. These one is from All Saints, #Necton, #Norfolk. For those that care, both photos #Pentax K-3iii, SMC Pentax-FA 31mm Ltd lens
Black and white photo of the top of a tombstone. It shows a relief carving of an urn or possibly a sarcophagus. The 'urn' has a almost triangular shape with the narrow bottom sitting on a base and a curved lid. On the 'urn' are the words "Remember Death". The raking light causes deep shadows but also brings out the text and the texture of the carving.
October 31, 2025 at 6:11 AM
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
For the last day of #31DaysOfGraves 2025 we have, appropriately, #MementoMori. This is from the Grimstead tomb in St Mary's churchyard, #Redbourn, #Hertfordshire. It is listed (historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-...). There is a #skull and bones, an #Ouroboros and a winged #hourglass. 1/2
A white marble panel from the short side of a chest tomb. There is a decorative shield-shaped frame within which is: at the bottom, three-quarter view of a skull sticking out of the ground with four bones behind, two with ball joints and two with hinge joints; on top of the skull an snake or dragon eating its own tail, i.e., an ouroboros, representing eternal life; the top two-fifths of the panel is a winged hourglass representing the flying passage of time. From either side of the top of the hour glass are rays coming down diagonally from something that might be clouds. These might be rays of light from Heaven?
October 31, 2025 at 6:03 AM
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
2/2 Lionel is reputed to have said: "since the Church united us in life, she can make amends by separating us in death."

The photograph attach to this reply shows the whole church with the two mausolea at the ends of arcades to the left and right.

#Pentax K-3, SMC Pentax 28mm shift #tapophilia
The photo shows the whole church in the snow. The main part of the building has four classical columns holding up a pediment. From either side is an arcaded wing with two columns each. At the ends of the arcades are the two mausolea. The shape of the one on the left can be seen through the arch. The front of the building is bathed in orange light from sunrise. The ground is covered in snow, and across the foreground is the haha. Between the haha and the church is a scattering of tombstones.
October 30, 2025 at 12:01 PM
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day 30 colour. Either side of the #Grecian revival church at Ayot St Lawrence are two mausolea, one for Sir Lionel Lyde who commissioned the church and the other for his wife Rachel. This photo was taken at sunset. For those that care #Pentax K20D, SMC Pentax-DA 18-55mm kit lens. 1/2
The photo shows the mausolea at sunset. The photo is framed by the outer structure of rather dirty white rendering and a semi-circular arch. In the middle is a tall square monolith with a carved stone pineapple on top. The inside of the surrounding mausoleum is orange from the setting sun. In the background are blue skies with clouds coloured orange by the sun.
October 30, 2025 at 11:53 AM
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day 29 occupation This monument is to Alexander #Alekhine (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexand...), a chess grand master. It is in #Montparnasse #cemetery, #Paris, #France. For those that care, #Pentax MX, SMC Pentax-M 20mm lens, #Fujicolor 200 film. #taphophilia #graveyard #monument
The vertical slab of this tombstone is divided in two parts. The top third is of white marble and has a relief portrait with the head turned to the left and one arm resting on something, probably a table. The bottom two thirds are a dark reddy-brown marble with the name of the deceased in Cyrillic and Latin scripts. The rest of the inscription is in French. The letters are picked out with gold leaf. At the bottom of the vertical slab are dead plants and flowers. The slab stands at the back of a horizontal slab of the same dark marble. The slab has sloping sides and the top is a chess board. On the board are some small pebbles and a dying rose laid diagonally across it.
October 29, 2025 at 6:42 AM
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day 28 #column. This broken column monument with a garland wrapped around it is in #Newington #necropolis, #Edinburgh, #Scotland.

For those that care, #Pentax K-3, SMC Pentax-F 50mm f/1.7 lens. #taphophilia #cemetery #graveyard
A black and white photograph of three monuments with the one on the right closest to the camera and the one on the left furthest away. The right hand one is a figure of an angel standing on a plinth. The angel has lost her right arm and her left hand. The middle monument is a broken fluted column with a garland wrapped around is, again standing on a plinth. The furthest monument is of a lighter stone and is an obelisk on a plinth. In the background are other monuments and trees.
October 28, 2025 at 6:06 AM
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day 27 tree. This stone is in the graveyard of the Immanuel Episcopal Church on the Green, New Castle, #Delaware. It is the classic "willow and urn" design which is not uncommon in early US cemeteries. I came back to this stone three times wanting the raking light and no shadows.
A grey stone tombstone. The top has an engraved sunken panel with a willow tree hanging over an urn. The urn is on a pedestal which looks like a grave monument. To the left is a palm branch. The text says "Sacred \\ to the memory of \\ Elizabeth Hind \\ wife of \\ Thomas J. Bird \\ Born \\ In Liverpool G.B. \\ Octr 5th 1812 \\ Died \\ March 10th 1834" Detail of the top panel of the tombstone described in the previous photo's alt text.
October 27, 2025 at 6:44 AM
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day 26 figure. This monument is to Zdzislaw Szczepkowski and Aurelia Szczepkowska. He fought with the American Legion and she fought in the #Warsaw uprising. Aurelia died in 1999. #Powąski cemetery, Warsaw, #Poland. For those that care: #Pentax Super A and #Fujicolor 100 film.
On the left is a statue of a woman from from the thighs up. She is holding a machine pistol across her body in both hands. To the right is a large black tombstone with a long inscription in Polish recording the achievements of the two people commemorated. In from are three lamps and a vase, and a clump of dead flowers.
October 26, 2025 at 6:36 AM
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day 25 graveside ornament. This gravestone had two flower-inspired spinners whizzing round in the wind. The slow shutter speed of 1/20 sec captured the movement. The stone is to four members of the Antony family, two of whom died quite young in their 30s. Welwyn cemetery, Herts.
On the right are two flower-inspired spinners stuck in the ground. They have artificial leaves at the bottom. The petals, one yellow and white and one blue and white, are spinning in the wind and are blurred. In front is a dead plant in a terracotta pot and next to that a square flower holder with a metal perforated top, but no flowers. The tombstone itself is of grey stone and carved in the form of a book. On the lefthand side it says "In \\ loving memory of \\ Irene Maud \\ beloved daughter \\ of \\ George and Elizabeth \\ Antony \\ Died 21st Feb 1954 \\ Aged 31 \\ Also grandaughter \\ Lesley Gilling \\ [die]d 1981 aged 32" On the righthand side it says "and \\ my dear wife \\ Elizabeth May \\ Antony \\ Died 31st Jan 1969 \\ Aged 76 \\ Also her husband \\ George Ernest \\ Died 8th June 1970 \\ aged 86."
October 25, 2025 at 7:04 AM
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day 24 unique animal. I'm not certain this chap is unique but it is certainly unusual. He is on the elaborate tomb of Charles Spencer Ricketts in #KensallGreen cemetery, London (see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomb_of...). Opinion is divided on the tomb, Pevsner hated it. It's very OTT
A gargoyle in the form of an animal, possibly a stylised monkey. Carved in grey stone. Its mouth is open, presumably to allow water to flow out of it. It is lying on an odd looking protuberance which might be architectural. Its hands are holding something that look like cymbals but certainly aren't. Sorry, this is hard to describe.
October 24, 2025 at 7:15 AM
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day 23, cross. This image was taken in 2010 on one of my last ever rolls of #Kodachrome 64. It was in the churchyard of St Mary the Virgin, Essendon, Hertfordshire. The first roll of film I shot on my first SLR was K64 in 1982 and those slides are as crisp now as then. #Pentax KM
A wooden cross lying flat on a grey stone slab. The cross has "Rupert" and some other hard-to-read text engraved on the cross piece. The shaft has rotted and one can see the broken end. There are lots of brown autumnal leaves scattered around and green lichen on the stone. The depth of field has been kept deliberately shallow and the focus is on the name Rupert.
October 23, 2025 at 6:36 AM
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day 22 landscape. This is a view across the valley from the churchyard of St Peter and St Paul, #Uplyme, #Devon. For those that care, #Pentax K20D, SMC Pentax-FA* 43mm Ltd lens.
A view. In the foreground centre are three tombstones of grey stone covered in lichen. On the right are some tall pampas grasses with dried seed heads. In the background are rolling hills covered in green grass with some houses from the village in the far distance to the left, some trees to the right, and some cows in the field. A pigeon is flying across the sky. In the bottom righthand corner is a garden fork stuck in the ground.
October 22, 2025 at 6:20 AM
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day 21 brass. This detail is from the #brass to Joan and John Taylour and their 15 children. It shows a #sheep and a #woolsack which is how John made his money and why St Peter and St Paul, #Northleach, #Gloucestershire is such a rich and impressive church.
A small brass engraved to show a stylized sheep standing on a woolsack which looks like a large pillow. Below the sheep is a cross made of two shepherds crooks, the owners symbol I think. The brass is set into a grey stone.
October 21, 2025 at 8:54 AM
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day 20, wreath. The figure on the monument is holding a wreath. Margaret was the window of Isaac Low who was an "American loyalist" who as a consequence lost his "large possessions". St Mary's Church, Welwyn. For those that care, #Pentax K-3iii, SMC Pentax-DA* 60-250mm f/4 lens.
A wall monument of white marble on a black marble surround. On the top a mourning figure is draped over an urn. He is wearing long flowing robes like a toga. The figure and urn is on a tablet which has two fluted columns either side. Underneath the tablet is a panel with foliage and flowers either side of a diamond-shaped panel with an arrow and a dog? running left. The long text says "Sacred to the memory of \\ Margaret \\ widow of the late Isaac Low Esquire \\ Formerly of the City of New York \\ An American Loyalist \\ whose large possessions \\ were in consequence confiscated \\ She died January 20th 1820 Aged 80 years \\ This last melancholy memento \\ Her only surviving son and child \\ has cause to be erected \\ near the place of her internment in this church \\ As a tribute of filial affection \\ to the best of mothers \\ Most exemplary of wives, kindest of relatives \\ and sincerest of friends."
October 20, 2025 at 7:25 PM
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves Day 19 social group. I was unsure what to do for this so I have gone with "academic". This stone is for the #geologist Jozef Gołab who worked at the University of #Warsaw. Powązki Cemetery. For those that care: colour image #Pentax Super A, #Fujicolor 100, BW: MZ-S, #Ilford SFX200
Black and white photograph of a tombstone in the shape of a boulder. The inscription says "Jozep Gołab \ 1903 -- 1968 " then crossed geologists hammers, then "Geolog \ Dr Profesor U.V." Colour photograph of the same grave. In the background but out of focus is the boulder with the inscription described in the BW photograph. In the foreground is a second boulder laying flat with a depression in the top surface. The depression is partly filled with water and fallen autumnal leaves.
October 19, 2025 at 8:56 AM
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day 18: mistake This monument is for Gideon Mantell (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gideon_...). It is in West Norwood cemetery. The letters LLD have been inserted. I don't know what they replaced! For those that care, #Pentax K-3iii, SMC Pentax-FA 31mm Ltd lens. #taphophilia #tombstone
A grey stone monument slightly tilting to the right. On the face is an inscription to Gideon Algernon Mantell. HIs qualifications "LLD, FRS, FGS &c" have the LLD part inserted and a faint lighter colour border around the letters shows this. Detail of the inscription showing the inserted letters.
October 18, 2025 at 6:53 PM
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day 17: moved. This is a photograph of a path at St Michael's Church, St Albans, where tombstones have been broken up and used to create a "crazy paving" footpath. Personally, I'm utterly appalled by this. I can understand why stones get moved to make maintenance easier... (1/2)
A black and white picture of a footpath made of broken-up bits of tombstone. In the foreground is the top of a stone with a cross, then the words "In memory of Eliza Fisher... died ... [Ha]nnah Balla..."
October 17, 2025 at 5:39 AM
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day 16: #oblelisk. This relatively modest monument is to Ellen and Emily Sibley and is in the cemetery of Harvard (the town, not the uni). Mass., USA. For those that care: #Pentax K-3, SMC Pentax "K" 30mm f/2.8 lens.
#massachusetts #taphophilia #gravestone #tombstone #monument
On the right of the photograph is an obelisk made of grey marble. Inscribed on the side is "Ellen Amelia Sibley Sept 5 1839 Apr 5 1901 Emily Adams Sibley Apr 27 1846 Oct 15 1935". The obelisk is leaning slightly to the left. On the ground is a grey stone border to the burial plot surrounding the base of the obelisk. The grass is baked yellow. In the background are scattered other monuments and on the far edge of the cemetery a building with blue clapboard sides. The skies are blue with white fluffy clouds.
October 16, 2025 at 7:42 AM
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day 15, #broken. This poor headless #angel is in the #Newington cemetery, #Edinburgh, #Scotland. The monument is to William, John and Catherine Graham. William died on the Western Front, John in an accident. For those that care, #Pentax K-3iii, SMC Pentax-F 50mm f/1.7 lens.
A black and white photograph of a statue on a pillar. The statue is of an angel, kneeling, hands held together in a position of prayer. The statue is missing its head.
October 15, 2025 at 5:20 AM
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day 14 inside. This ledger stone is in the nave of St Mary's, Pirton. It is for James Hanscombe which if the text is to be believed was an all-round good guy and "one of the best and most successful advocates..." For those that care, Pentax SV, Auto-Tak 55mm, Ilford Delta 100.
A black and white photograph of a stone flat in the floor of the nave. The photo is taken at a 45 degree angle so slopes away into the distance. The long inscription looks white against the black stone. There are Victorian floor tiles either side.
October 14, 2025 at 6:10 AM
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day 13 skeleton. Lots to choose from for this theme but settled on this tombstone from St John the Devine, Elmswell, Suffolk. The gravestone is for Matthew Marsh who died in 169[5]. The two skeletons are standing on hour glasses which are on top of cherubs and are holding shovels.
Detail on one edge of the tombstone showing a skeleton carving. The proportions are all wrong with the lower half of the body much smaller than the upper. The skull looks like it it is grinning. The skeleton is holding a spade or shovel in its left hand. A description of the rest of the tombstone is given with the second photograph. A face-on view of the tombstone. On either edge is a standing skeleton holding a spade in its inside hand. Each skeleton is standing on an hourglass which in turn is on the top of the head of a chubby cherub. At the centre-top of the tombstone is a third cherub head with two outstretched wings either side. Below that is a framed panel with the text. The text reads Memento Mori \ Here lyeth the body of \ Mr Matthew \ Marsh who \ dyed ye 18th of \ Aprill 1695 [the last digit is unclear] \ [in Italics] aetatis suae 52 \ [last line unclear] C...
October 13, 2025 at 4:16 AM
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day 12, Notable woman. This is the grave of Pauline Payne #Whitney Paget. She founded the Almeric Paget Military Massage Corps which helped wounded soldiers in WW1. Her story can be found here: www.schoolfieldcountryhouse.com/journal/2017...
She is buried in #Hertingfordbury
A view of the tomb. There is a statue of a seating female figure with two children either side looking up at her. The statue is in an architectural frame with two columns, one either side holding up an entablature with "Pro Patria" inscribed on it. Either side of the frame are two lower wings which curve forwards. The whole is set at the back of an enclosure with low brick walls. The area in front of the statue is paved, probably over the vault, and partly covered in wet autumn leaves. Detail of the female statue. She is looking down and to the left. She is wearing a cloak over her head which is tied in front. One of the panels from the paved area in front of the statue. It shows an engraving of a man from the side sitting on a ?box. He is smoking. It probably represents one of the soldiers her charity helped. Detail of the statue. The female figure is seated and the two children are either side. One is sitting on the step at her feet looking up at her, the other is standing with one elbow on her knee looking out. The female's cloak is wrapped around the shoulders of the second child.
October 12, 2025 at 6:10 AM
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day 11: military Rather than post a grand tomb of a eminent military person, I thought I'd highlight some graves from some of more modest rank. These are in the wonderful Bonaventure cemetery in Savannah, Georgia. For those that care, #Pentax K10D, SMC Pentax-DA* 50-135mm lens.
A line of three white tombstones, one behind the other in a raking light show the text. They are to Jack B. Williamson, Walter Benedict Johnson and Wallace Eugene Thonness.
October 11, 2025 at 7:37 AM