TheShaker
God Forgive Me
So reads the inscription in bronze letters upon the mighty tombstone of R T Crawshay 1817 - 1879. And so begins the speculation as to why the Iron King of Wales should choose a tombstone of such might (estimates vary from 10 to 30 tonnes) and place such a stark epitaph on it. John 'Iron Mad' Wilkinson at least constructed himself a coffin of iron for his own interment as we saw earlier in this series. The speculation was that he was expressing regret with the inscription at the way he had treated his workers, and also perhaps his family, whilst ensuring with the tombstone that no-one would be able to defile his corpse. Then again it turns out this was a fairly common inscription at the time, and it is not at all unusual for the rich to seek aggrandisement in their tombing arrangements. Sadly the second theory may be closer to the truth, and then there is little folly in it. But just enough doubt still to merit inclusion here.
www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/300081188-gravestone-of-...
www.alangeorge.co.uk/vaynor.htm
God Forgive Me
So reads the inscription in bronze letters upon the mighty tombstone of R T Crawshay 1817 - 1879. And so begins the speculation as to why the Iron King of Wales should choose a tombstone of such might (estimates vary from 10 to 30 tonnes) and place such a stark epitaph on it. John 'Iron Mad' Wilkinson at least constructed himself a coffin of iron for his own interment as we saw earlier in this series. The speculation was that he was expressing regret with the inscription at the way he had treated his workers, and also perhaps his family, whilst ensuring with the tombstone that no-one would be able to defile his corpse. Then again it turns out this was a fairly common inscription at the time, and it is not at all unusual for the rich to seek aggrandisement in their tombing arrangements. Sadly the second theory may be closer to the truth, and then there is little folly in it. But just enough doubt still to merit inclusion here.
www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/300081188-gravestone-of-...
www.alangeorge.co.uk/vaynor.htm