Thoroughly modern gravestones

      In their day at the beginning of the 19th century these two family gravestones would probably have been seen as contemporary and maybe even at the beginning of a funerary revolution. Coming from an iron and steel town in the North East of England I have never seen anything like them before.
      Anyway, in 1803 the industrial revolution was well under way so why not move away from all that incised and carved marble, granite and slate? Yes why not? The wrought iron casting has survived really well and it's stood up to the ravages of the weather, erosion and the passing of time; even the patination of the iron looks good and the detail at the head of the memorial is rather fine too.
      We don't think it will catch on though. Well not yet.