Fequently Asked Questions
- What is the gravestone photographic resource project?
- How often is the index updated?
- Can I get a copy of a tombstone memorial photograph?
- Why are there so few photographs for some churchyards?
- How can I find out if there are any entries in the resource for a particular name?
- How can I see if there are different spellings of a name held within the resource?
- How can I help the gravestone photographic resource project?
- Why is only part of England indexed?
- Why don’t the dates on the index match the dates I already know about?
- Why are there not more records for gravestones from the 1900’s?
- Why are there no dates on some records?
- How can I found out who else is researching families within a particular cemetery?
- How can I get a particular cemetery added to the project’s database?
- How can I find out if anyone else has requested the photograph I am interested in?
- Why is there no charge?
What is the gravestone photographic resource project?
The gravestone photographic resource project is an attempt to provide a much needed on-line genealogical resource for family historians.
The project aims are as follows:
- to digitally photograph all UK grave monuments for people born before 1900 that are currently legible
- to extract all legible personal information (name, age, date of birth, date of death, relationship) from each image
- to publish all legible personal information on an internet database and make this data freely available
- to email copies of any grave monument image free of charge to anyone requesting a copy
- to lodge at appropriate public record offices collections of images appropriate to that area
- to encourage local groups to maintain, photograph and record grave monuments
- to extend the scope of the project beyond England
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How often is the index updated?
The index is normally updated at least once a week.
These updates take the form of adding new information to the internet database.
Once information has been added to this database it is immediately available to anyone using this site.
Because of this site is designed around a powerful database, every index on the site is always up-to-date.
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Can I get a copy of a tombstone memorial photograph?
Yes, you can get copies of individual photographs.
No charge is made for the images that are sent out.
However, by making a donation you would help fund the project as this is its only form of income.
For more details have a look at our order a photograph page.
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Why are there so few photographs for some churchyards?
Although most churchyards and cemetaries contain many graves, often only a small proportion have stone monuments.
Out of this small proportion graves that actually have monuments, usually less than 50% are readable.
Monuments become illegible because of a number of different factors:
- Water errosion - cause by rainfall
- Frost damage
- Plant damage - usually by lichen
- Polution - acidic rain dissolving alkaline rock
- Vandalism - this is increasingly common in some towns
The fact that grave monument become illegible over time is a major reason why this project is so important.
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How can I find out if there are any entries in the resource for a particular name?
You can search the resource’s database for all the entries for a particular name by using typing the name into the box below and pressing the FIND FAMILY REFERENCES button.
This search facility is available on most pages.
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How can I see if there are different spellings of a name held within the resource?
You can see a list of all the surnames held within the resource by using the A - Z feature which is on the main menu at the top of every page.
For instance if you want to see what versions of the name Ablett are stored within the database, just press the A on the main menu and all the surnames within the resource starting with A will be displayed.
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How can I help the gravestone photographic resource project?
You can help the project by either:
- giving some of your time by becoming a volunteer.
- giving financial support by making a donation.
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Why is only part of England indexed?
At present the project only has one volunteer and he lives in East Anglia.
In the past we have had volunteers who have photographed gravestone monuments in other parts of England as well as other countries such as Australia and Cyprus.
To expand the coverage of the project we need more volunteers.
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Why do the dates on the index not match the dates I already know about?
The dates on the index are obtained from the monuments themselves.
Often the age given on a monument is an estimate made by the surviving relatives.
Another reason why the dates may be inaccurate is that the monument may be worn or damaged and the age or date of death is what the person indexing it believes it to be.
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Why are there not more records for gravestones from the 1900’s?
Because of the huge scale of the project, it was decided that for the initial stage only monuments for people born before 1900 would be photographed and indexed.
In some cases, however, volunteers have included other monuments.
Where they have been include it is usually because:
- The monument is in poor condition.
- The monument is of particular interest.
Once the majority of monuments for people born before 1900 have been index, churchyards and cemetaries will be re-visited and later monuments photographed and indexed.
However, this is unlikely to happen for many years due to the huge scope of the project.
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Why are there no dates on some records?
The names against each monument are those that occur on that particular monument.
Often, the monument gives the names of the decease’s spouse or parents.
This information is particularly useful for researchers tracing family trees.
However, sometimes monuments are in such poor condition that the dates cannot be read.
These monuments have been included within the index as researchers can use these clues to do further check against parish records.
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How can I found out who else is researching families within a particular cemetery?
A special “members” feature will be added to the site in the future.
This “members” feature will allow visitors to look at a “notice board” associated with a particular area.
Visitors will be able to add details of the families that they are currently researching as well as contact details.
This “members” part of the site will be free.
However, access to this section may be via an “advert” link that will help fund the service.
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How can I get a particular cemetery added to the project’s database?
The project keeps a list of graveyards that visitors to the site have expressed an interest in.
Although the project will not guarentee to photograph and index a specific churchyard it uses this list whenever it plans its photographic sessions.
If you want the project to photograph and index a specific churchyard, let us know by using the contact us page.
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How can I find out if anyone else has requested the photograph I am interested in?
Whenever an image is requested for the first time, the master copy of that image is resized, compressed and stored in a separate directory.
This new version of the image file has a date stamp that shows when it was created.
If someone else requests the image, this date stamp is used to lookup the initial email request.
The Gravestone Photographic Resource will never disclose someones details without their permission.
Thus, whenever someone requests an image that has been requested before, the person making the latest request is always asked if they would like their details forwarded to the other person who requested the same image.
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Why is there no charge?
The project was originally set up as a hobby and it was hoped that by not having a charge others would volunteer to help photograph and index cemeteries thoughout the United Kingdom and beyond.
Unfortunately, although there have been many offers of help, very few have actually mangaged to take any photographs and donate them to the project.
The project does however accept donations and these do help to cover the cost of providing the web site and online database.
The project also now displays "Google Ads".
Whenever these are clicked by a visitor, the project is credited with a small sum of money.
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