A bit on the green side n'est pas? Oh well, it's beautiful in it's own way. Here the Romans came to bathe, worship their gods, fuck, and drink plonk. The Roman Baths were left as a ruin for many centuries after the end of Roman rule in Britain. It's really only in the last 100 years has the historical protection/restoration of this site begun in earnest. Swim anyone?

This is the grave of a famous British boxer who died around the turn of the century. He was famous but now his grave is more famous for it's stone doggie who watches over the tomb of his faithful dead owner. Until we meet again.

One of my favorite graveyard angels. This particular one is standing off the beaten path at Highgate Cemetery in London. She is covered in moss and looks sorrowfully down on the person buried below. I found her (him?) almost human, and you really get the sense of pathos in the stone angel's posture and expression. It's startling how much emotion I still feel looking at this particular statue.

In many British churchyards you will see all sorts of graves hidden under trees and dense perennials. Some just sink into the ground as time marches forward. It doesn't seem fair to lose so many tombs, grave markers, and memorials. But we are all erased by time and social death.

Here are some raised graves in the churchyard of St. Paul's Cathedral in London. Time, acid rain, and moss have taken out all the epitaphs. The deceased must have had a bit of dosh to be buried so close to St. Paul's. Although at this point in time graves look like unimpressive slabs of cement. People barely look at them when they walk along the garden lane.

A small grave marker in the overgrown garden of Salisbury Cathedral. Who was this person and what did they mean to Salisbury? You would have to go through the depths of the old church records just to find the name of this person. Unless they did something horrible or strange there would probably be nothing of note recorded. If they were lucky perhaps some very elderly person remembers a story about them. It's unbelievable how quickly we all disappear into obscurity.

Here we have the most sublime Scottish church ruin. This is a photograph of the remains inside Dunstaffnage Chapel. It's located just a wee bit away from the ruins of Dunstaffnage Castle. The part you see in background of this photgraph is a tiny walled off cemetery. This is the ultimate ruin for all to enjoy and fear.

This is the ruins of Christ Church Greyfriars. It's called Christ Church Greyfriar Gardens now, and is a great place to visit just to see it's interesting garden and contemplate the futility your life. Flowers and hedges are used in a very interesting ways to give the illusion of church walls and pews. On an overcast day Christ Church can give you a sort of tingly eerie feeling as you walk past it. Look for the ghost of a dirty monk smelling the roses. He's there, and he's a wanker.

At St. Botolph's Aldgate Cemetery there is a wall filled with late 19th century blue and white tiled memorials of people who died because of the accident proneness of others. Like the example of Henry James Bristow in this posting. It took a lot to stop myself from crying after I read some of these memento mori, but after reading many of them I felt proud to be part of the human race. Even though that feeling is often a fleeting one.
St. Boltoph's Aldgate Cemetery is worth seeing just for t... read more

I took this picture at St. Botolph's Aldgate in London. At one point in time this particular churchyard was completely overcrowded. Many people at this cemetery were buried one on top of each other during various London plagues. That explains why the gravestones are cramped so close together.
St. Botolph's Aldgate church cemetery is now used as a pretty little garden where people go to sit and look at the flowers. You won't find the plague lurking here, just sandwich eaters. This cemetery wa... read more