Mine's Bigger than Yours

I return to the very old graveyard high above the nearby town as I had taken a picture of this monument but didn't make any notes of the owner or owners.

Back in the early Victorian days even when you had died you were able to brag with: "Mine's bigger than Yours", as you can see from the other graves around. I was much more careful today after the stories of many snakes in the undergrowth.

So I now have some names to get my teeth into:

John Thomas Marsden-Smedley (1841-1875)

Mary Ellen Marsden (1818-1901)

Thomas Stead Marsden (died 1860 in Melborne, Victoria)

Herbert Marsden-Smedley (1866-1867) Just 4 months old.

So I may return after my research but there is one thing for certain, my family won't be spending money on a gravestone this big for me.

[Candace]

This is one grand marker, looking forward to some history! Fav!

[carol white]

Super capture, love these old headstones. Fav!! 😃

[bkb in the city]

What a huge tombstone. We have a few like that here in Edmonton

[Bep]

Good luck on your research! Fav.

[Graham Thresher]

Fabulous capture and I am sure that your research will be successful.

[Lin]

Wonderful historic capture. Let us know if you find any research on these folks.

[KWind]

It does look old! Such a fancy headstone.

[Nicole]

That looks very interesting!

[Peter Dulis]

Love it -

[~*~ Jo ~*~]

Wonderful shot

[Pat Knowles]

They set such store by the size of their graves didn't they? A bit different to a cremation & an urn!

[Joseph M Snaith]

Spent 12 years in the local TA with a couple of Marsden`s.
Obviously with a grave stone that big they were some of the Stroud well to do, will be interesting to see what you find out. I`ll make a guess at mill owner of some sort. FAV

[Elisabeth Sæter]

Great shot

[Babs]

I guess this is the dead centre of the town. So much history, would be great to trace their stories.
My graveyard is going to be bigger than this. I am going to be scattered on the sand dunes at Birubi Beach. http://sanddunesafaris.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/bg.jpg

[Jerri]

wow this is a super fancy marker. it'll be interesting what you find out!

[Joyce]

It will be interesting to trace the family Heather. Must have been reasonably well off to have been able to afford that huge monument!

[Jules Hoogstra-Anderson]

Love the intricate detail on the stone, very fancy and obviously someone well off. Awesome capture and good luck with the research.

[John]

Rather monumental and quite interesting!!

[Sylvia du Toit]

I looked at the photo and saw the surname Marsden. Just wondered if this could be relatives of one of our 365 friends? http://www.manek.org.uk/Kit Marsden
@manek43509
Professional musician. Amateur photographer.

[grace55]

Interesting view.

[grace55]

Where I live in Rishton, Blackburn, we have a blue plaque honouring the physicist Earnest Marsden.

[Lady Magpie (Heather)]

@grace55 That's interesting as that's the area were these Marsdens came from.

[Sue Cooper]

What an amazing tombstone. Well captured.

[Sue Cooper]

PS I look forward to seeing a photo of a snake.

[Nina Ganci]

brilliant find. Maybe the size was the importance of the person. Yours should be bigger and taller, as your stories and investigations are legend in our times, not to mention your awesome photography and sense of humour
fav

[Julie F]

Wouldn't it be interesting to know the story behind the people in this grave. I like the contrast of the grassy area surrounding the grave against the blue sky.

[Denise Wood]

Fascinating :)