Category: Women
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Lady in Red
The history of a garment links three women, a 19th century painter and some beautiful places of rest Be it his Ophelia or Bubbles, the work of Sir John Everett Millais (1829-1896) dominates the nineteenth century. An evocative artist whose latter work to soap in the nineteenth century is just important as the image of […]
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The Queen has died – so what happens next?
An inevitable day has finally happened. The Queen’s extraordinary reign – 70 years and 214 days – has drawn to a close, making her the second longest reigning monarch in history, behind Louis XIV of France, whose record of 72 years and 110 days. But records are irrelevant. The Queen has died and whether you’re […]
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Mary Nichols and the Sleeping Angel
Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful graves in Europe, it is said that the grave Mary Nichols lay completely hidden under ivy of Highgate Cemetery until the 1980’s, when it was rediscovered by photographer John Gay. On the top of the grave lies a sleeping angel on a bed of clouds: it is easily one of […]
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Bother the Men! The Grave of Mrs Howard Paul
A prestigious memorial eroded by time betrays the memory of an iconic Victorian woman. Her fine contralto voice was often used to excellent effect in imitating male tenors of the day and she was a master of comedy performance. But Mrs Howard Paul followed the pattern of women adopting their husbands name professionally. Four years […]
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The Top 6 Graves of Père-Lachaise
Here we go. Such has been my apprehension in attempting to write an entry about the most famous cemetery in the world that it’s taken me nearly a year to finally put my visit into words. How – how, dear reader – can you do justice to this place in one post? How can I convey […]
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Victoria’s God-daughter
Dressed in the highest fashions of the 1860’s, a princess looks deeply into the camera as she takes direction from one of London’s busiest photographers. Surrounded by foliage and the ‘shelter’ of a tree with a classical column in the background to accentuate her status and class, effortlessly exuding a regal command that was only […]
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The Tortoise & The Opera Singer
What on earth an opera singer has to do with a tortoise? We all know about Conchita from Eurovision but there’s another you should know about, whose unique grave resembles something from a Terry Prachett novel. Back in March I discovered the above image and the tag line ‘Opera Singer‘. The smile, the enthusiam, the […]
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The Top 6 Graves of Chartreuse
Feminists, mummies and Death himself: Cimetrie de la Chartreuse is literally crammed with history and fascinating people Opening in 1791, it was built on the former gardens of a Carthusian monastery and is a literal suburb of the dead; many of Bordeaux’s great and good have been laid to rest here. I was supposed to […]
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Octavia Hill
For LGBT History Month 2019 I’m inviting friends and fans alike to delve into our cemeteries and unearth some queer stories – there are loads, if you know where to look! Today I’m very pleased to post a blog by Sean Curran; Sean is a heritage educator and curator currently Community Learning Manager at the National […]
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Rock Creek Cemetery
Who says cemeteries can’t be beautiful? You see those mausoleums? They gave me shade from the relentless August that I had to endure during my stay in Washington D.C. I walked a mile from the Catholic University of America campus (where I was staying) to the first and finest of the cemeteries in the States. […]
Cemetery Club 