Deciphering decayed inscriptions on gravestones?

[probinson]

Not sure where to post this so hope this is OK here...

I was looking at a gravestone today of an ancestor. The inscription is very decayed but there's a lot still there, just almost unreadable. I was wondering if anyone had tips on how best to read it. I was thinking of things like doing a rubbing but not sure if the engraved text will stand out from the decayed surface. The other thought I had was photographing it with a very acute light source to try and bring out the relief but not sure it would work.

I've attached an example. There's two lines of text at the bottom of the stone which are almost invisible in the photograph but were clearly there on the stone - it was just impossible to read it.

Any suggestions appreciated.

Thanks

[MonicaL]

Some help notes here www.ncgenweb.us/newhanover/cem1.html

Monica 

[Rosinish]

I have enhanced it a wee bit.

Not sure what you could read before but looks like (what I can decipher).....

Died Feb..........17 (on end)
Aged 61 years
His Widow died the 12 - Dec
Aged 61

Couldn't make out any names though

Annie

[probinson]

Some help notes here www.ncgenweb.us/newhanover/cem1.html

Monica 

That's really useful. Thanks Monica.

[probinson]

I have enhanced it a wee bit.

Not sure what you could read before but looks like (what I can decipher).....

Died Feb..........17 (on end)
Aged 61 years
His Widow died the 12 - Dec
Aged 61

Couldn't make out any names though

Annie

Thanks Annie but I've already got all the information from the upper lines. It's the lower ones that are all but invisble in the picture that I need help with. The pictures I took were just quick ones with my phone. I intend to go back with a better camera and some artificial lighting to see what I can do. And also some foil now I've discovered that method.

[anne_p]

Is there possibly a Monumental Inscription book for the cemetery or graveyard?

I located my ggg grandparents grave in the Monumental Inscription book which was produced in the early 1970's. (My ggg grandparents died more than a century before)
Even at the time of publication, there was a fair amount of erosion and some words and dates were indecipherable.
 Having done the research myself, I  knew what the missing/indescipherable words  and years would have been.

When I first visited the grave in 2008 there were very few words left
Today, there are none.
The entire smooth, etched surface has fallen away and only the rough core stone remains

[bitzar]

I was just going to say what anne_p said. 

Where is the grave?!  I've discovered that Gloucestershire has an amazing record.  Not sure if any other country has anything similar.

Bitzar.

[probinson]

Is there possibly a Monumental Inscription book for the cemetery or graveyard?

Must say I don't know. Hadn't considered it. I'll try and find out.

Thanks for the idea.

[probinson]

I was just going to say what anne_p said. 

Where is the grave?!  I've discovered that Gloucestershire has an amazing record.  Not sure if any other country has anything similar.

Bitzar.

It's in Ewelme, Oxfordshire.