Grave search 1

Regular readers of both my blogs probably know of my fascination with old cemeteries which leads to often posting grave pictures, specially on The Firefly Photo Files. The only reason I post most on there and not here is cause I often discover interesting grave yards in small town while on holiday and weekend outings and it doesn't fall within the Port Elizabeth area.  Anyway, due to the fact that I post these I have had a couple of people e-mailing…

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Graves at St Mary’s

The old St Mary's Cemetery is situated between South End and the city centre close to where the Baakens River flows into the Port Elizabeth Harbour. Some of the graves date back to the mid 1800's and include some of the original British Settlers who arrived on our shores in 1820. For a couple more of my pictures of the cemetery, visit The Firefly Photo Files here and here. The bridge in the background is part of the Settlers Freeway.

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James Langley Dalton

Driving down Russell Road towards town, the Russell Road Cemetery is situated on the left hand side. On the hillside in amongst what is left of the grave sites there is one that stands out clearly because of the fact that it is painted white. The grave belongs to James Langley Dalton. Dalton was a survivor of the Battle of Rorkes Drift and the recipient of a Victoria Cross. The battle at Rorke's Drift took place from 22 to 23…

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The fallen angel

I went to the South End Cemetery the other day to look up a couple of graves. In the old part of the grave yard I found this angel statue that has fallen over which tickled me and my camera's fancy.

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Forest Hill Heroes’ Acre

I don't really need to say it as regular readers of specially my other blog will know, but I have a thing for cemeteries. Specially old ones. This is to such an extend that I have had a couple of people ask me to track down headstones of their ancestors for them. Anyway, Port Elizabeth has several cemeteries with military connections and/or sections. The Forest Hill Cemetery had a 'Heroes' Acre' laid out in 1980. This was in the Apartheid…

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Historic Muslim Cemetery

Driving down Brickmakers Kloof (and over the new bridge), the historic St Mary's Cemetery is situated on the right hand side across the road from the old bus sheds. Very few people notice that between the road and the St Mary's Cemetery there is a number of graves. They seem to be Muslim graves, so I popped into the South End Museum to see if they had more information. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a lot of info available…

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Forest Hill Cemetary

I love exploring old grave yards, but new cemeteries freak me out a bit doesn't quite interest me that much. The Forest Hill Cemetery between Forest Hill, Humewood and Summerstrand is one of the "active" cemeteries in town. When I say active I don't mean there are lots of night'un'life and haunting going on, I mean its where people are currently being buried. Forest Hill Cemetery is quite a big cemetery with some of the graves dating back a few…

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Cemetery road

My office is very close to the South End cemetery and when I have nothing to do I normally take a slow drive through the cemetery looking for interesting monuments and angles to photograph. The other day I realised that while I was looking for the little things, the big picture was passing me by.

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Leather Lane

Looking down Leather Lane from Municipality Road, towards the Russell Road Cemetary and the Dutch Reformed Church, in Campbell Street. The grave of James Langley Dalton, who was awarded Victoria Cross, after the battle of Rorkes Drift, can be seen at this cemetary. I will feature his grave in the new year.

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