Hello Listers, Does anyone know if there are any memorial inscriptions that have been transcribed for St. Mary's church at Carisbrooke? I've had a websearch but cannot find anything so far. Last year I tried taking photos of the headstone of John STARK who was buried 1857 in the churchyard of St Mary, it rained all week of my visit so not only were the pictures rubbish but I couldn't read what it said anyway! I did look from every angle. I would love to know if the words were recorded while they were still readable. Appreciate any suggestions. regards, Eve

Eve, (and any others with a similar problem) a tip for the future. If you have difficulty reading a worn gravestone, take a large travel blanket and a torch with you. Throw the blanket over the stone to completely cover it, then get inside and shine the torch obliquely across the inscription. It will actually stand out almost as though it had been carved yesterday. I devised this system after reading that worn tombstones are best read in the dark using a torch. As I am somewhat averse to crawling round cemeteries in the dead of night, I solved the problem with the travel blanket. I leave to your imagination, the one time I was transcribing a particularly difficult stone in Southampton Old Cemetery. It was getting late and dusk was fast approaching, but I was determined to finish it. Having spent sometime stooped in an awkward position, I stood up groaning with the blanket over my head, just as one of the town drunks came down the path looking for a berth for the night. He screamed, turned tail and ran. I probably put him off drink for life seeing this groaning, apparition appearing from a grave. Sandra _______________________________________ No viruses found in this outgoing message Scanned by iolo AntiVirus 1.5.6.4 http://www.iolo.com

Hello Eve, I recently found an old grave of my Great Great Grandfather and the stone looked like it was blank. I used the traditional method of using a lightweight paper and wax or pastel crayons to rub the stone and was able to lift every word that had been on it. I was even able to see that the phrase "In loving Memory" hand been written on the top in a different font. None of this was visible and was assumed to be blank. Regards Ian Dunbar -----Original Message----- From: isle-of-wight-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:isle-of-wight-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Eve Ward Sent: 01 October 2009 21:14 To: ISLE-OF-WIGHT-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [IoW] Memorial inscriptions Carisbrooke church St Mary Hello Listers, Does anyone know if there are any memorial inscriptions that have been transcribed for St. Mary's church at Carisbrooke? I've had a websearch but cannot find anything so far. Last year I tried taking photos of the headstone of John STARK who was buried 1857 in the churchyard of St Mary, it rained all week of my visit so not only were the pictures rubbish but I couldn't read what it said anyway! I did look from every angle. I would love to know if the words were recorded while they were still readable. Appreciate any suggestions. regards, Eve ************************************** You can contact the Isle of Wight List Administrator by emailing: Isle-of-Wight-Admin@rootsweb.com ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ISLE-OF-WIGHT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.409 / Virus Database: 270.13.115/2405 - Release Date: 10/01/09 06:34:00

Eve I think you have the answer now, but I refer you to my mail on Wednesday, the IWFHS web site has details of availability of burial records and memorial inscriptions, refer to: http://www.isle-of-wight-fhs.co.uk/mis_bis.htm The IW Record Office web site also has details of MIs: http://www.iwight.com/library/record_office/Types_of_Records/monument.asp Regards Jon Baker -----Original Message----- Hello Listers, Does anyone know if there are any memorial inscriptions that have been transcribed for St. Mary's church at Carisbrooke? I've had a websearch but cannot find anything so far.