Ceramic grave markers

[Lankyman]

In the graveyard at Middleton-in-Teesdale is this ceramic grave marker dating from 1910. It seems to be the only one there. I've seen them in greater numbers over the hill in St John's Chapel in Weardale. They seem to date from the early 20th century and confirm to the same design with a heart-shaped plaque on a hollow trunk-like stem. I haven't seen them anywhere else. Does anyone know anything about them?

 

[mhatton304]

These gravestones appear quite widely around County Durham & Teeside, most dated between 1890 - 1920. Most are the simple cream coloured heart shape, mounted on a brown “tree”. A few have additional ceramic branches & leaves. Sadly many have been broken by vandalism and grass cutting. Other have been cleared away to one corner of the burial ground (see photo of Tow Law). They sometimes have short poetic verses and some tell very sad tales of infant death, accidents or industrial disease. They appear to have been a lower cost option compared to traditional stone carved headstones, so affordable by working class families that may otherwise have lain in unmarked graves. I have not found this design in other parts of the country, so they appear to have been produced locally. I did try to identify the maker but without success.

 

[Lankyman]

Thanks for this. Next time I'm in the North Pennines I'll see if I can spot any manufacturer's marks. It would seem that Teesdale was the southern limit and I haven't seen any in Cumbria (eg Alston in upper South Tynedale).

 

[Peter Ryder]

I saw a few of these in Tynedale. One at least in Hayden Bridge cemetery (I think) was stamped as a product of the Langley Sanitary Pipe Clay works. As well as grave markers they specialised in ceramic urinals, and made half-scale versions to advertise the product, which I was told were sent round the world… I have seen them now serving as garden ornaments with flowers planted in them…..