Cleaning up a gravestone

[CarolineWebb]

Hi, we have found a potential ancestor's gravestone but it's pretty much illegible and covered in lichen. Would it be ok if we tried to clean some of it off with plain water and a cloth/soft brush?
We've asked the church if they have transcripts of the stones which they don't and have tried to email the council for permission but heard nothing back.
Thoughts please :-)

[martin hooper]

I've been in this situation myself. Have you tried shining a light from the side and seeing if the shadows make the inscription more legible? That has worked partly for me.

I've always been reluctant to physically remove lichen for fear of doing irreversible damage. My conscience won't let me do it. But I have carefully traced around inscriptions gently to try to identify letters. Laborious but it can yield results.

Good luck.

Martin

[rosie17]

Think you would need to be careful trying to clean it I was told by someone who transcribes old stones was to dust it with talcum powder worth a try


Rosie

[AllanUK]

Both suggestions from Martin and Rosie have worked for me in the past.

[rosie17]

Both suggestions from Martin and Rosie have worked for me in the past.

Good to know 

Rosie

[JenB]

I’d be very reluctant to attempt to remove any lichen, particularly on a grave marker which is made of sedimentary rock. You could well damage the underlying stone and open it up to increased erosion by the action of rain and frost/ice.

[Zaphod99]

I think you need expert skills, and then only if you have any right to touch it.

Zaph

[David Nicoll]

Hi,
    Can you tell us where it is and who it is for?
    The local church may not have a transcription, but many local societies have done the work for us. 
    There are also historic transcriptions if you are lucky.

[Biggles50]

A Deed of Grant is issued for burial and the erection of a headstone.

This Deed if often for a specific period and can be renewed.

If during the period of the Deed the named person on the Deed passes the ownership is transferred to the Executor.

If at a later date a family member wants too they can obtain a Deed of Grant which typically can be for 25 years during which time they have full rights over the grave and headstone.  The owner could then clean the headstone as they wished in line with the details specified in the Deed.

At least this is what was explained to us when we set about looking at replacing a damaged headstone in Manchester’s Southern Cemetery.