Hello Listers, Santa delivered the BMSGH publications Staffordshire Monumental Inscriptions and Worcestershire Monumental Inscriptions CD's which I have been after for some time. However now that I come to use them, the old issue of not knowing the Geography of the area raises its head, and I don't know where to start looking - particularly for my COOPER's and SHAW's. It's a bit easier for my SPITTLE's although surprisingly there seems to be a lack of graves with that family despite their supposed potential for them to be prosperous through Nail Factoring and Rove making. Therefore I need a bit of assistance on the Geography. My Cooper's lived in Quarry Bank - what would be likely Churchyards/Cemeteries for them to be buried in post 1901 please? My Shaw's lived in Netherton, Rowley Regis and Kingswinford - again which Churchyards covered these areas please? Finally I note that the total monumental inscriptions for both County cd's is over 244,000 on both cd's suggesting that it is possible that not everyone had a gravestone or that the stones have been lost over time due to erosion and vandalism. What is the predominant rock used for Gravestones in the area? Is it likely that stones erected during the C19th and earlier would have survived to be recorded? So far out of a high number names in my tree from these parts, I have found just one MI on both CDs! There must be more on them but knowing where to look as always seems to be the case in this area of small compact parishes spread over two counties spilt by a meandering river is the hard part! John R G Bland Spalding