Monumental Inscriptions Project
Producing a Plan of a Churchyard
The reference books say that a plan of a graveyard is essential. Whilst it is possible to concentrate on recording inscriptions, we should either produce a plan as well or be in a position to explain to someone else how to go about it. The following books give some guidance.
- Rayments Notes on Recording Monumental Inscriptions
- H L White "Monuments & their Inscriptions, a practical guide
- Harold Mytum "Recording and analysing grave yards"
In addition to these pages, guidance can be found at www.ejclark.force9.co.uk/guidelines/index.htm and www.ejclark.force9.co.uk/guidelines/plan/
Using a Computer
There are many ways of drawing a plan and it is very much a question of individual choice. The following is one method using the "Paint" accessory in Windows:
In Normal View, draw a small text box close to the top left hand corner of the page and enter a four digit reference number.
Viewing this at 800% magnification, with grid lines displayed, you will find the height is 8 pixels and the length between 7 and 23 pixels.
If you have a steady hand you may be able, in Normal View, to draw a frame around each reference number.
Viewed at 800% magnification with gridlines showing, you can see that this occupies an area 12 pixels high and 27 pixels long. Most of us will find that the frame is not correctly aligned around the reference number and will have to question whether a frame is necessary, as the number alone will indicate the position of the grave.
A 10 metre square of ground will accommodate approximately 4 rows of 8 single graves each. (A single grave plot being 4 feet by 9 feet).
Moses may have invented decimalisation but they still weigh us in pounds and ounces when we enter and measure us in feet and inches when we leave. In order to provide room for 32 reference numbers of the maximum size (e.g. "WM44") a scale of 130 pixels = 10 metres is convenient.
At 800% with gridlines displayed, use a small cross of pixels to indicate the corners of ten metre squares. You can do this by watching the pixel counter as you move around the screen and locating the points 130.130, 130.260 etc. Enter a single pixel at these points and one or two more above, below and to each side of it. The paint page when printed then displays a plan of 50 metres by 75 metres and the position of individual stones can be indicated in the appropriate place in each square.
Print out some blank plans on scrap paper. Write the reference numbers on the plan at the churchyard. Transfer your notes onto a new plan on your computer.
This sounds fine in theory but getting those reference numbers to appear in neat rows is not easily done. There must be an easier way of putting a plan onto a computer. Does anyone have any suggestions ?
© Copyright John Pepperdine, Steve Ecclestone and NFHS