A hair brooch, a name and a cross-continental journey. Hester Ann Barfield 1853-1856.
Mourning Gems: Hester Ann Barfield
Category: Victorians
The Stowmarket Guncotton Explosion of 1871
The Stowmarket Guncotton Explosion occurred on a Friday afternoon, on 11thAugust 1871. The explosion killed 28 and injured a further 70.
Annie Fairlamb Mellon: The Geordie Medium.
Annie Fairlamb Mellon was one of the UK’s greatest materialisation mediums and is so rarely celebrated for her weird and wonderful claims.
St Peter’s Church, Smallburgh: Tiny Shoes and Rood Screens
The rood screen at Smallburgh is arguably the main focal point of the church today.
Death By Coffin!
"Killed by a Coffin at Kensal Green Cemetery..."
A Sensation in Quebec!
'A Quebec Woman Creates a Sensation, Riding Through St. John Street in a Hearse, Reclining on the Coffin-Bed, and Smoking a Pipe...'
The Peterloo Massacre: Culpability and City Memorials
The Peterloo Massacre was as a result of police brutality during a protest. A protest that essentially occurred as a result of two public issues – unemployment and voting restrictions.
Ice, Ice, Body: Introducing Ice Caskets
In the age before embalming and refrigerated storage, keeping bodies preserved and cool was a serious issue for undertakers and families alike.
Two Towers and an Eccentric Priest: Booton St Michael
Lying in such an isolated place, Booton St Michael has come to be known as ‘the cathedral of the fields’.
A Day at Southampton Old Cemetery
Southampton Old Cemetery is a historical site, a nature reserve, a place for tours and relaxation. Its also a place to dodge dog poo by the bucketload.
Burials & Beyond 