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So why are we so interested in the imagery and written information on gravestones? The answers are simple; once upon a time everything was explained by images because only a few people could actually read. The images within the church told the bible story, land owners had their burial plaques in the building and woe betide anyone who could not recognise their Lord's colours and crests (on earth and in heaven!).

I was first introduced to the images of the church and cemeteries by my history professor. He marched us to the lodges in Scarborough's Dean Road one day, and told us to go and look for anything unusual on the gravestones, to read the text and look at the images. Well of course, besides the obvious; dates born and died, names and family, we failed at first. It was only when we started to think in terms of heraldry and the symbols we had seen recently, that it clicked. All those beautiful decorated symbols on the gravestones had deep personal meanings to the families of the departed. They were not there to make the stones look pretty.听

Plants, animals, religious images, symbols related to saints, mythical creatures, and pagan art all have meanings. They were lost to us for a while but in the 18th century the language of flowers was reintroduced to Britain once again from Turkey. It was in the 19th century when middle class gravestones began to copy their betters and incorporate flowers. For example the rose, an ancient Roman symbol of victory, became a Christian symbol for love, martyrdom and purity.