Please! Please! Please! Don't use anything other than a little water on grave stones. You don't know what subsequent damage other solutions might cause and remember you descendants may want to read the image later. Removing grass/turf is generally accepted so long as its replaced as it actually protects the stone. Lichen is a protected species in the UK so don't remove it. Take along a sponge and a bottle of water. Dabbing the stone with a fairly dry sponge works best. Reason: When the stone was cut the grain in the area around the chisel was filled with fine dust and this shows up differently with just a little water. If you poor the water on it doesn't work the same. Sorry to go on but we need to do as much as possible to protect these records. Bob KIRK Dukinfield Cheshire Interests Are: KIRK (Crewe & Manchester) DAWSON (Manchester) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve Rawlins" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, January 18, 2003 2:11 PM Subject: Re: [SP] photographing documents and source items > > Try coating tombstones with foam shaving cream and carefully wiping it off to reveal lettering. It has worked for me. > Steve