Cleaning gravestones

Lorna Allison · Post by **Lorna Allison** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 11:58 pm

Hello folks

I have been in contact with a gentleman in Fort Augustus who tells me that I have a forebear buried in Kilfinnan graveyard "which is not kept up by the Council". I am visiting the area in August to research this family and wonder whether it is permissible to take along suitable tools/cleaning preparation to clean the stone up a bit which would also help with deciphering.

I would not want to use anything that would be detrimental to the surface.

There may be reference on the stone to an unmarried son killed at Loos 1915 and, as there was only an unmarried daughter in the family, I think noone will have done anything for many years.

Any advice would be welcome.

Regards

Lorna

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 1:01 am

Hi Lorna

There was a post on TS fairly recently which included a bit of discussion about cleaning up grave stones. I can't remember who posted it though and it didn't show up in a quick 'search' of the board.
If the stone was not too eroded and the surface looked as though it wouldn't fall apart:
The suggestion put forward was to take a fairly soft brush to gently clean off the worst of the lichen and moss until you could begin to read the inscription, then trace the inscription with a piece of white chalk to help it stand out in a photograph.
That way you will cause no lasting damage to the stone as the chalk will wash off in the next rain storm but it will give enough contrast for a better photo.

Watch out for the brambles though. Some of their thorns are lethal.
If there is ivy growing across the stone be gentle, pulling away a little at a time as it actually sends tiny roots into the stone and vigorous tugging can pull off the facing of the stone.

If there is a better way APAnderson may be able to tell us as she has spent years listing and photographing all the graveyards in the Stirling area. Some of the stones she has found are just beautiful. Mind you, some of the older ones are a bit grotesque.

Russell

Post by **paddyscar** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 3:46 am

The Association for Gravestone Studies site has a selection of FAQs, dos and don'ts, tools, materials, and information on symbols and reading weathered stones.

www.gravestonestudies.org/faq.htm
www.savinggraves.org/education/bookshelf/cleaning.htm
http://www.oregoncemeteries.org/cleanin ... nes_ii.htm
www.gravestoneconservation.com

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 10:15 am

Thank Frances

I didn't have any of these links amongst my favourites.

Russell

Lorna Allison · Post by **Lorna Allison** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 1:50 pm

Hi Frances and Russell

Thank you both so much. That is just the info I wanted and I feel confident now about going ahead. Just hope there is room in the car boot for a suitcase once all the equipment is in - and then maybe there will not be a stone

Who cares - it would be nice if it didn't rain though

Regards

Lorna

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 4:48 pm

Hi Lorna

Hope you're in luck with inscriptions. More chance if it's fairly recent.

Round Fort Augustus is beautiful even when it rains. The rain sweeping down the loch is quite a sight. There's a great wee pub right next to the canal lock nearest the road for good grub.

Enjoy your jaunt.

Russell

Lorna Allison · Post by **Lorna Allison** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 7:32 pm

Husband's written those details down right away =D>

Thanks

Lorna

apanderson · Post by **apanderson** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 12:35 pm

Hi Lorna,

As usual, I'm at the coo's tail!!

Can I suggest before you do any sort of cleaning, you visit the graveyard at different times of the day, i.e. early morning and late afternoon/early evening.

You'll be amazed at the difference the sun's angle can make seemingly illegible inscriptions as clear as day.

I'm afraid I'm one of these people who don't believe in cleaning of any kind or use of any substances to enhance the inscriptions even although some of them are classed as completely 'safe'. In saying that though, I've had the luxury of being able to keep going back to check!

Anne

apanderson · Post by **apanderson** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 12:41 pm

Here's another link that may be of interest:

http://www.scottishgraveyards.org.uk/index.shtml

Post by **paddyscar** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 3:52 pm

I didn't give the 'light of day' any thought in reading stones, but it certainly makes a lot of sense, Anne. I had a quick run through the site you posted and it certainly has some ideas not mentioned earlier.

Frances