City of London cemetery

One that tugs at the heart strings, an angel greeting a child who is ascending the stairs to heaven. This beautiful relief carving is from the City of London cemetery.

Granite BMW Car Monument.

This man was a car fanatic, he died last year and his family wanted to mark his passing with a memorable monument. They decided on a headstone in the shape of his favourite BMW M3 convertible. Weighing one ton, the BMW sculpture had to be lowered on to the grave by crane in an operation involving 20 people. It cost around £50,000. Following the recent article in the paper we went to Manor Park cemetery in London to see it and here are the photos. All images © J Trend-Hill.

Scary Angel, West Norwood Cemetery London

This angel always gives me the creeps for some reason; I think it’s the stare!

Passy Cemetery, Paris

In Passy Cemetery Paris I discovered this rather ornate monument complete with figure climbing in (or out!) There was a small vent in the brickwork so I poked my camera inside and discovered a wonderful and incredibly lifelike statue of its occupant. I dubbed her the ‘Princess’ as she almost looks like she is lying in state.

Paris

An unusual find from Paris.

Hungry Tree

This is the grave of Henry Mumford Taylor and Annie Gilmore buried at Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery in Santa Rosa, CA. The tree was literally beginning to consume the stone. I am no botanist so there is no way to tell the age of the tree. Henry Mumford Taylor was born on 3 May 1831 in Pittsylvania, VA. He died on 6 Feb 1902 in Occidental, CA. He married Annie Florence Gillmore on 28 Oct 1872 in San Francisco, CA. His wife Annie Florence Gillmore was born on 4 Aug 1844 in England. She died on 18 Dec 1913 in Santa Rosa, CA. This is the only information I could find on the two. It makes me wonder how long before the stone is entirely consumed.

Santa Rosa Rural was a beautiful cemetery full of huge oak trees. It was the rainy season and I was doing some scouting for a friend that likes to shoot models in cemeteries. My assignment was to scope it out due to the recent rains and see if it would be too muddy for a model to walk around there all day. Sadly it was too muddy for the model but it wasn't too muddy for me. I stayed there for a couple hours wandering from place to place as I always do. When I finally finished I noticed they had a map at the entrance to the cemetery. Like a kid in a candy store I walked right by it. On the map they had markers placed signifying important grave sites within the cemetery. I started my tour all over again and ended up spending another hour or so there taking the walking tour. It was a great cemetery. They even had a work party that meets once a month to clean up garbage that people left behind and do some straightening. They allow people to show up and help out so maybe I'll be heading back on clean up day. The good thing is the people cleaning up around the cemetery seem to allow the cemetery itself to naturally age. I really liked that about this work party.


This was another great tree that could be found there. Where most cemeteries would have simply chopped it down, this one did something to support it so it could continue to live. I'm a big fan of trees and I commend the cemetery for allowing this beautiful tree to just be. Of course it's now receiving a little help but still beautiful.








This is an example of the wonderful trees and foliage that could be found here as well. I'll be going back real soon...

Well Done / Silent Cities Volume Seven

I always laugh when I see this cross which is now adorning the cover of my latest book; it’s from the City of London cemetery and states ‘Well Done’.

Silent Cities Volume Seven is now available. Journeying through the architecture of eternity via the eyes and lens of memorial photographer Jeane Trend-Hill. Containing over 150 images of unique monuments including angels, crosses, animals and shrouded figures.

Available from: http://www.lulu.com/product/lulustudio-photo-book/silent-cities-volume-seven/10665027


For further information see: www.homestead.com/askjeane