Prior to commencement of any necessary consolidation or repair work, it may be necessary to cut back some of the heavy ivy, which has penetrated the stone work in places. Expert advice is needed to ensure that only necessary repairs to boundary walls are the carried out as the cutting of ivy may cause subsequent collapse. The flora and fauna of the graveyard must also be taken into consideration as stone walls are a choice habitat for various plant and insect species (McQueen, 2006).

There are a variety of different materials used to make uninscribed gravemarkers, headstones and tombstones within the study site. Limestone and sandstone represent the softest stone of the group. The softness of their materials, however, leaves them vulnerable to the elements. Marble is also considered to be a soft stone but it yields more beauty with its veining patterns and finer grain, which can support intricate carving details on tombstones (McQueen, 2006).

It is important that gravemarkers and headstones remain in situ, i.e. are not removed in anyway unless they have completely fallen or are breaking. Headstones that are tilting at odd angles should be left as they are, as this is part of the charm of an historic graveyard (OPW 1995,15). Before cleaning a tombstone it must be evaluated to make certain that it is in a stable condition with no flaking or risk of further deterioration resulting from the cleaning process. Yellow and white lichens frequently grow on headstones and also become part of the character of a stone. They can help estimate the age of a stone based on a measurement of their width (McQueen, 2006).

For cleaning the tombstones made of soft natural stone, the following is a list of generally accepted items to use - plenty of water, buckets, natural bristle, brushes/tooth brushes, non-ionic soaps/detergents and TLC (tender loving care)

In most cases, soft brushes and water are sufficient to remove arty build up of grime and residue yet does not harm the natural flora which often grows on a stone and which adds to its character (McQueen, 2006).

To be continued…

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