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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Aberdeenshire => Topic started by: anne50 on Sunday 12 August 12 10:54 BST (UK)

Title: Gravestone inscriptions
Post by: anne50 on Sunday 12 August 12 10:54 BST (UK)

Hi, i wonder if anyone can help. I walked round the St Peters cemetery in Peterhead yesterday, and there is loads of old gravestones. Quite a few had the inscription " 2 breadths ahead" or " 3 breadths ahead", at the bottom of the stone. What does this mean. Would it be a religious thing?

Thanks
Anne

Title: Re: Gravestone inscriptions
Post by: flst on Sunday 12 August 12 13:10 BST (UK)

I imagine it would be an indicator of where the lairs were.Probably of use to the gravedigger & stonemason rather than a religous meaning.
flst

Title: Re: Gravestone inscriptions
Post by: Flattybasher9 on Sunday 12 August 12 16:52 BST (UK)

It would be interesting to see the dates and names on the stones. On another web site, 9see below) this is discussed, and a photograph showing one date with two names, husband and wife, and the inscription "2 Breadths" which may imply that they died togther and were buried alongside one another.

http://newton-le-willows.com/history/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1268&start=0

Regards

Malky

Title: Re: Gravestone inscriptions
Post by: anne50 on Sunday 12 August 12 20:03 BST (UK)

Thanks FLST and Malky. It does look as if it means two people were buried side by side ( 2 breadths ahead), although its not a dead cert (pardon the pun). The stones were very old, late 1700's, to early 1800's.

Anne