Shelley Dziedzic
Member
Here's a good link which explains the great difference in late Victorian and post WWI burial customs- as well as funeral statuary symbolism, dress, and cremation vs. burial customs.
Social Graces Custom & Etiquette
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Inger Sheil
Member
I'd say 'very nice site' Shelley, but - erm - is that quite right in the context? 'Informative and thoughtful' perhaps? Was particularly gratified to see the monuments of Highgate peeking through the picturesque undergrowth again (if I ever feel like a challenge when I'm out on a run, I take a route that goes up Swain's Lane and past the Cemetery gates). Good data on evolving mourning practices - I was recently given copies of some fascinating mourning cards for various members of the Lowe family throughout the 19th Century, all part of the paraphenalia of grieving.
Shelley Dziedzic
Member
Swain's Lane- yes, I recall huffing and puffing like a mountain goat. How thick is the black border on the mourning cards? I understand the wideness of the border on cards and stationery was in proportion to the relationship of the deceased, and the length of time since the demise. Mystic Seaport has one of Mrs. Eleanor Smith's mourning letters to Mr. Hancock, cream stock with a dark black border maybe one-quarter inch wide all around. Fascinating stuff. This weekend I have a pair of morticians staying at the LIzzie Borden B&B so I plan to ask a few questions. Both collect mourning paraphenalia. I do most of my collecting with rice paper and heelball wax and a camera!
Inger Sheil
Member
It's not without reason that Swain's Lane has been described as one of the creepiest, not to mention steepest, lanes in London. Can't imagine what it must have been like with the media circus that accompanied that obscene 'vampire' hysteria in the 70s.
You've intrigued me with the comment about the border width, Shelley. The cards range from 1864 to the mid-1890s. On the earlier ones it's not exactly uniform , but is around a quarter of an inch. The last one, from the '90s, has the most elaborate border. It's almost half-an-inch, and has thin strips of white within that and tiny white maltese crosses in the corners. The earlier ones make a reference to the day the deceased was interred (either 'this day' or a specific date). The last one refers only to the cemetery where the deceased was interred, not the date.
You've intrigued me with the comment about the border width, Shelley. The cards range from 1864 to the mid-1890s. On the earlier ones it's not exactly uniform , but is around a quarter of an inch. The last one, from the '90s, has the most elaborate border. It's almost half-an-inch, and has thin strips of white within that and tiny white maltese crosses in the corners. The earlier ones make a reference to the day the deceased was interred (either 'this day' or a specific date). The last one refers only to the cemetery where the deceased was interred, not the date.
Shelley Dziedzic
Member
Victoriana galore at this glorious website-lots of articles and photos on mourning customs and other subjects discussed under this topic catagory. Hours of fun.
