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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

A Grave Mistake: The Surprising World Of 18th Century Funerary Crime My new talk at @bowstreetmuseum.bsky.social and online too! Thu 1st Oct, 6.30pm The unpredictable world of crime at the funeral - who stole what? And why? #history bowstreetpolicemuseum.digitickets.co.uk/event-ticket...

bowstreetpolicemuseum.digitickets.co.uk

Buy AT THE MUSEUM A Grave Mistake: the Surprising World of Eighteenth Century Funerary Crime Tickets online - Bow Street Museum

View AT THE MUSEUM A Grave Mistake: the Surprising World of Eighteenth Century Funerary Crime from Bow Street Museum.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

A Grave Mistake: The Surprising World Of Eighteenth-Century Funerary Crime New talk at @bowstreetmuseum.bsky.social and livestreamed online too! 1st Oct, 6.30pm The unpredictable world of crime at the funeral - who stole what? And why? bowstreetpolicemuseum.digitickets.co.uk/event-ticket...

bowstreetpolicemuseum.digitickets.co.uk

Buy AT THE MUSEUM A Grave Mistake: the Surprising World of Eighteenth Century Funerary Crime Tickets online - Bow Street Museum

View AT THE MUSEUM A Grave Mistake: the Surprising World of Eighteenth Century Funerary Crime from Bow Street Museum.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Coming to Bristol!! Death and the Doctor 💀 Sunday 30th August The White Harte, Bristol See how the deathbed struggle between medicine and death was imagined in the 18th century in my Pints of Knowledge Bristol debut - tickets available now! www.tickettailor.com/events/pints...

tickettailor.com

Buy tickets – "Death and the Doctor – The Enlightenment Battle Between Medicine and Death" – The White Harte

"Death and the Doctor – The Enlightenment Battle Between Medicine and Death" – The White Harte, Sun 30 Aug 2026 - "Death and the Doctor – The Enlightenment Battle Between Medicine and Death" with Dr. ...

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Dr Dan at London Month of the Dead On Thursday 8th October I will be talking at Highgate Cemetery as part of London Month of the Dead! Learn about the bizarre places of the dead in georgian London. londonmonthofthedead.com/georgiandead...

londonmonthofthedead.com

London Month of the Dead - Death in Georgian London

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Reposted by Dr Dan O’Brien

Dr_Alessandra_P @alessandrapino.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

A new episode of A Curious Appetite is available 🍪 Funeral food with @drdan.bsky.social ⚰️ I hope you enjoy it. open.spotify.com/episode/1tvn...

open.spotify.com

Dr Dan O'Brien: Death at the Table

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

Thanks to everyone who came along to Arnos Vale for my talk The Unquiet Dead! Such a fantastic evening and some great questions too - it’s always so much fun to share my research. Coming up is The Last Tuesday Society on March 16th! #history #skystorians

The Spielman Centre at Arnos Vale cemetery. A neoclassical building with four columns supporting a triangular roof. It is early evening and the moon hangs above the building.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

TONIGHT online and at Arnos Vale cemetery in Bristol My @cendeathsociety.bsky.social research in action for The Unquiet Dead - a lively trip through the unexpected events in 18th cent burial grounds. Tickets available: arnosvale.org.uk/the-unquiet-...

The unquiet dead
A man with a lantern cowers before a towering but rather comical ghost that has long white robes and spindly fingers.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

Death appears in a tarot card with a swishing scythe amidst terrain littered with bones and skulls. From @pittriversmuseum.bsky.social #skystorians #deathhistory #history

A tarot card depicting a skeleton with a scythe representing death. It stands amidst skulls and bones.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

New Talk: The Unquiet Dead – The lively burial grounds of the 18th century Wed 25th Feb, 6.30pm  Hybrid talk. In-person at Arnos Vale Cemetery & online. Join me for a talk on the unpredictable world of 18th century burial grounds - robbers, spectres & revelry. arnosvale.org.uk/the-unquiet-...

A caricature scene of a man in a graveyard being startled by a ghost. He holds up a lantern and looks in horror. Before him is an open grave.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

Thanks to everyone who came along to today’s talk at Christ Church Frome. Brilliant to have such a large audience to share my research with and a really treat to answer some fantastic questions afterwards. Next - Arnos Vale cemetery 25th Feb #frome #deathhistory #skystorians

Dr Dan O’Brien points towards a screen featuring a caricature of a patient on the deathbed surrounded by a physician, death and an undertaker

A cartoon in which three undertakers run towards and an old man wearing a red cap. The old man is about to be speared by death, personified as a skeleton.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

Free talk tomorrow in Frome! Sat 31 Jan, 11am A Flock of Ravens: The business of death in eighteenth century England. Join me at Christ Church in Frome for a talk about the early undertaking trade and 18th century funerals. No tickets - just turn up! ⚰️ #history #deathhistory #skystorians

Sat 31 Jan, 11am
Christ Church in Frome
A Flock of Ravens: The business of death in eighteenth century England.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

Free talk coming to Frome next weekend! Sat 31 Jan, 11am A Flock of Ravens: The business of death in eighteenth century England. Join me at Christ Church in Frome for a talk about the early undertaking trade and 18th century funerals. No tickets - just turn up!⚰️ #history #deathhistory #frome

A Flock of Ravens
The business of Death in eighteenth century England with Dr Dan O’Brien

Christ Church Frome
Saturday 31 st January 11am

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

Free talk coming to Frome! Sat 31 Jan, 11am A Flock of Ravens: The business of death in eighteenth century England. Join me at Christ Church in Frome for a talk about the early undertaking trade and 18th century funerals. No tickets - just turn up!⚰️ #history #deathhistory #frome

Caricature of an undertaker meeting an elderly man and offering his services. The undertaker is carrying a coffin on his back and holds his hat tightly in his hands. The old man is enraged with his visitor. The old man’s dog is also barking fiercely at the undertaker.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

Many thanks to @profilebooks.bsky.social for this copy of Molly Conisbee’s ‘No Ordinary Deaths’ a social history of death which is this death historian’s sort of thing!! It has undertakers too! More thoughts to come! #skystorians

Molly Conisbee’s book No Ordinary Deaths featuring two skeletons standing alongside a large urn

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

Ok, an object which demonstrates my passion for death history. A fragile Delftware plate titled ‘You and I are Earth. 1661’ It was found in a sewer and went into the collection of @londonmuseum.bsky.social #skystorians

A round white plate that is inscribed with the message ‘You and I are Earth 1661’

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

Excellent evening talking as part of Goths for Breakfast -‘Night of the Leaving Dead’ looked at the some of the curious things that happened involving both living and the dead. Here we have two of Newton’s cartoons ‘Resurrection Men’ and ‘An Apparition’ from British Museum! #gothsforbreakfast

Richard Newton’s An Apparition. A grave robber is startled in a nocturnal burial ground by a tall, white ghost. The two characters are surrounded by the graves of the burial ground.

Richard Newton’s Resurrection Men. Three grave robbers are gathered around a grave when a tall white ghost challenges them with a bone.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

Maria O’Brien - 1958 - 2025 My mum died suddenly yesterday evening at home. Despite her chronic RA she always seized the most of life and history and listened to many funerary tales. She always encouraged my studies and my research into death history!

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 01/02/2025

I will be joining in for this brilliant day of ideas and gothicness - the tickets are going fast but hopefully you can join me for ‘Night of the Leaving Dead’ ⚰️

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

If you are in Australia or would like some death history to start the day I will be giving an online talk for NDAN about the lively and often busy world of 18th century burial grounds - 7th Feb - 7pm AEDT / 8am GMT Tickets: www.trybooking.com/events/landi...

A cartoon depicting a churchyard. Sat on two tombs are a lawyer, gravedigger, clergyman and physician. They are in the company of a skeleton representing death and all of the characters are having a good time drinking and smoking. A hearse arrives at the distant wall of the churchyard and the driver raises his hat in a salute to the gathered friends.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

At Donmar Warehouse this evening for Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812. A whole performance based on a segment of War and Peace #musicals

A view of the Donmar stage from row C of the stalls. In the foreground there are tiny lightbulbs. A haze hangs over the stage which is surrounded on three sides by the seats.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

Welcoming me to any new Bluesky members and the regulars (you are very much appreciated too!) Here is a one of my favourite mourning rings - a memento mori and an example of eighteenth century mourning ring from British Museum #skystorians

A mourning ring. The bezel is decorated with an enamelled skull placed over woven hair and surrounded by diamonds.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

I’ll be in this year’s Goths for Breakfast with ‘Night of the Leaving Dead’ - The Impermanent World of the Eighteenth Century Grave at 8pm GMT on 15th Feb. It’s an online day of Gothic & horror sessions in support of the charity Magic Breakfast! Tickets at: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/goths-for-...

A satirical print from the eighteenth century depicting three grave robbers huddled around a grave. The men look in horror at a tall white ghost that is illuminated by their lantern light. The ghost nonchalantly holds out a bone towards the grave robbers.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

It’s a coffin! A fine way to grab a death historian’s interest. This coffin pendant is a quite a bit smaller and its pop-out inhabitant is not faithful or a traitor but a memento mori skeleton. #thetraitors

A tiny gold coffin pendant. The opened lid reveals a tiny skeleton lying within. The coffin is decorated with nails and has three handles on each side.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

If you are new Bluesky hello! I’m Dr Dan, death historian and cemetery wanderer. Bringing you items from the material history of death from the early medieval to the present. I’m also quite partial to a Roman tombstone so maybe that needs tweaking… #skystorians

A painting depicting a figure that is half woman and half skeleton. The skeleton half holds a scythe. The living half is dressed in fine clothing with her hair styled. A reminder that earthly wealth means nothing against death.

A winged skull from a wall memorial in St Mary Redcliffe church in Bristol. The skull gazes to the left of the image. It lacks a few teeth.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

Found myself in a Devizes churchyard today and somehow rather viciously bumped my knee on the ironwork surrounding this impressive memorial to John Hart Burges, rector of St John’s (d.1899) #skystorians

The memorial to John Hart Burges, rector of St John’s Devizes. It is a tall, black monument with a circular finial decorated with the initials IHR surrounded by a wreath. The circular finial is supported by a tall, flared pillar. St John’s church can be seen behind the memorial.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

As a death historian this is what I would call a death card. Death carrying a scythe and wearing a galero and red cape (ferraiolo) of a cardinal. Watercolour on card, varnished. Italian. c.1490 (From V&A) #TheTraitors

A tarot card featuring Death. Death is depicted as a skeleton holding a scythe over one bony shoulder. Death wears the red cape and hat of a cardinal demonstrating death’s dominion over all things.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

Finishing my Nelson funeral day with these patch boxes enamelled with mournful sentiments about the fallen Nelson. One imagines the moment of his injury and the other a sailor standing alongside a monument to Nelson. Both from NMM #skystorians

The enamelled lid of an elliptical patch box. It depicts the injured Nelson being supported on deck as the battle of Trafalgar rages in the background. The scene is surrounded by the message ‘off Trafalgar the battle was fought. Nelson’s life the victory bought’

The enamelled lid of a patch box. It depicts a sailor standing alongside a memorial titled ‘in memory of Nelson’. The sailor holds a banner which reads ‘he lives in our hearts’

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

A view of Nelson’s funeral at St Paul’s with the giant lantern illuminating the coffin below. The ensigns of captured French and Spanish ships hang around the mournful scene. Print after Charles Augustus Pugin. From British Museum. #skystorians #navalhistory

A view of St Paul’s with Nelson’s funeral being staged with a large crowd gathered in a bowl around the coffin which is under a plumed canopy. A tall cylindrical lantern hangs over the coffin with lots of points of illumination on it. The scene is framed by a large Spanish flag to the left and a large French flag to the right.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

One of my favourite funerals - 9 Jan 1806, the funeral of Horatio Nelson at St Paul’s Cathedral. A spectacularly large event preceded by a procession from the admiralty. Here is Nelson’s funeral car (from British Museum) and its surviving figurehead (NMM) #skystorians

The figurehead from Horatio Nelson’s funeral car. It depicts Victory personified as a winged woman in a flowing dress. She holds out a wreath in her outstretched right hand. This would have been at the front of the funeral car.

Nelson’s funeral car. A large black wagon with four wheels. The front and back of the car are shaped to look like Nelson’s ship Victory. His coffin is positioned in the middle of the car, it is decorated with escutcheons and ornate handles. A canopy is held over the coffin by four pillars, one on each corner.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

Twelve Graves of Christmas - Day 12 🪦🎄: The Platt memorial at St Pancras Old Church features busts of William & Mary Platt of Highgate. It was originally in the chapel of Highgate School. The memorial is decorated with heraldic shields illustrating the heritage of the deceased. #skystorians

The platt memorial. A large wall mounted memorial with two elliptical alcoves in which the busts of William and Mary Platt are placed. The couple stare out from the monument as if watching the church below. Around their alcoves are many colourful shields displaying the heritage of the pair.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

Twelve Graves of Christmas - Day 11 🪦🎄: Skulls bookend the memorial to various relatives of goldsmith George Reeve at Bath Abbey (his parents, wife and four sons) - accompanied by the words ‘thers a tyme wherein our bodys must revive agayne though now turn’d into dust’ 1664. #skystorians

A skull with crossed bones beneath it from a mourning brass. The detail of the skull is enamelled in red making it appear very striking. It has perfectly circular eye sockets and a very triangular nasal cavity. The row of teeth is designed as a row of rectangles.

The Reeve memorial brass. A long shiny metal plaque that is inscribed with red text. The red text is bookended by two skulls. One hovers over a pair of crossed bones and the other hovers over a winged hourglass.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

Twelve Graves of Christmas - Day 10 🪦🎄: Edward Harris’ memorial records his service for the navy including almost two decades enslaved by Barbary pirates. Harris lived at the Royal Naval Hospital Greenwich & died in 1707. The grave slab has been moved into the Devonport memorial. #skystorians

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

Twelve Graves of Christmas - Day 9 🪦🎄: Tudor effigies from Old St Paul's. In the crypt of Wren's cathedral are a family of effigies which survived the burning of St Paul's during the Great Fire of London. Thomas Heneage (d.1594) lies alongside his wife Anna (d.1592). #skystorians

The effigy of Thomas Heneage. He is wearing full armour with a tiny ruff and his moustachioed head rests on a pillow.

The effigy of Anna Heneage wearing a long robe and a large ruff. Her hands may have been joined in prayer but they are missing due to damage to the effigy.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

Twelve Graves of Christmas - Day 8 🪦🎄: Effigies of Sir Maurice Berkley (d.1464) and his wife Ellen (d.1475) rest in prayer on their tomb at Bristol’s Lord Mayor’s Chapel. Sir Maurice’s effigy is dressed in full armour including gauntlets that look a bit like metal mittens. #skystorians

Sir Maurice Berkeley lies in effigy alongside the effigy of his wife Ellen. Sir Maurice is wearing full armour. Both effigies have their hands joined in prayer.

The Berkeley tomb featuring two stone effigies lying alongside each other in an alcove with decorated fringe. There are two shields held above the effigies by carved stone lions.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

Happy New Year to all - in the most death history way I know!! However you celebrate - whether you are dancing, feasting or just enjoying a welcome rest! #skystorians #happynewyear

A skeleton dances alongside a woman in a fashionable yellow dress. The skeleton holds up an arrow and points to ominously.

Two medieval skeletons play musical instruments and dance. The dancing skeleton on the right is wrapped in a billowing shroud.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

Twelve Graves of Christmas - Day 7 🪦🎄: The brilliantly detailed mail and shield of William Longspée, Earl of Salisbury (d.1226) The tomb contained a curious mystery - a dead rat was found in his skull and its remains contained arsenic…were rumours that Longspée been murdered true? #skystorians

The effigy of William Longspée. He is dressed in full chain mail with only his eyes and nose visible through the mail hood which is also known as a coif. He is wearing a fabric surcoat over the mail.

The kite shaped shield carried by Longspée’s effigy. It is decorated with six lions in an inverted triangle pattern. Three lions above two lions above one lion.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

Twelve Graves of Christmas - Day 6 🪦🎄: This memorial comemorates two brothers who were lost at sea. Henry Orfeur was on the Invoice which sank 23 Nov 1856 & John Orfeur was on board the Geraldine which was lost in April 1862. It stands in Abney Park cemetery quite close to the path. #skystorians

A sailing ship struggling against a stormy sea. The sails are pulled by the winds and the masts seem warped. From a memorial two to brothers who died at sea.

A tall rectangular memorial standing amidst the foliage of an overgrown cemetery.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

Twelve Graves of Christmas - Day 5 🪦🎄: A memento mori skull shrouded in drapery stares out from the monument to William Doble (d. 17th Oct 1675). There are crossed bones behind the skull & atop the memorial two putti support the arms of the deceased. From @universitychurch.bsky.social #skystorians

A skull stares out from a memorial. The skull is framed above and below with swags of fabric that are also carved from stone.

The memorial for William Doble. A skull is a bottom of the memorial and at the top there are two putti on either side of an amoral shield. Tiny heads stare out of the side of memorial too watching onlookers.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

I share my birthday with the feast of St Thomas Becket. In this day in 1170 Becket was murdered in his cathedral at Canterbury. These items tell the stories of Becket’s miracles and his untimely end at Canterbury. #skystorians #otd

Canterbury Cathedral’s rose windows. A colourful stained glass depiction of Becket emerging from a reliquary to assist Eilward of Westonning who is lying injured in bed.

The scene of becket being attacked by the knights carved onto the side of a stone font. Becket lies on the ground and above him a knight strikes with his sword but catches the arm of Edward grim.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 28/12/2024

Twelve Graves of Christmas - Day 4 🪦🎄: The Karolinian Burial Vault, Riddarholmskyrkan, Stockholm. Nine ornate coffins stand in a semi-circle beneath a starry ceiling (added in the 19th century). Pictured here we have the coffins of Karl X Gustav (d.1660) and his successor Karl XI. #skystorians

The gilt coffin of Karl X of Sweden. The coffin has a ridged lid that slopes gently upwards from the sides. The corners of the coffin rest on gold lions. A gold wreath decorated the end which is facing us.

The gilt coffin of Karl XI. It stands on six legs that are shaped like lions paws. A crown is placed on the lid near the head end of the coffin.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 27/12/2024

One curious death history item from a visit to the American Museum in Bath was this tiny glass cup that is decorated with the faces of Lincoln and Garfield and the dates of their assassinations - rather than their actual deaths. #skystorians

A tiny glass cup that is decorated with the likenesses of Presidents Garfield and Lincoln as well as the dates of their assassinations. As Garfield gazes to the side we can see Lincoln’s ghostly expression on the opposite side of the cup.

Abraham Lincoln and his date of assassination 14 April 1865.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 27/12/2024

Twelve Graves of Christmas - Day 3 🪦🎄: The tomb of Ellen Maria La Touche at St Mary’s Churchyard in Bathwick. This impressive memorial commemorates Ellen Maria who was born in Göttingen and lived in Bath with her husband the Irish soldier Peter La Touche and died in 1845. #skystorians

The memorial to Ellen Maria La Touche. A large stone sarcophagus with decorated corners and a ring carved at either end. The lid is flat. It sits on a stone base that would have once had a railing around it but now only stumps of metal are left. The railings were removed during World War Two.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 26/12/2024

Twelve Graves of Christmas - Day 2 🪦🎄: In 1878 the church of St Dionis Backchurch was demolished after merging with All Hallows Lombard St. The burials from the vault of St Dionis were moved to the City of London Cemetery where they were re-buried and marked by this memorial. #skystorians

The memorial to re buried dead of St Dionis Backchurch. It has three gothic arches on each side and is surrounded by the foliage of the cemetery.

A wider perspective on the memorial to the re buried dead of St Dionis Backchurch. The memorial stands on a wide stone base which covers the grave of the many coffins removed from the church vault.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 25/12/2024

Twelve Days of Graves of Christmas - Day 1 🪦🎄: The memorial for Peter Capponi at St Olave Hart Street in London. Capponi was a Florentine merchant and spy who died of plague in the 1580s. His effigy in armour was commissioned by Peter Land, a man of Florentine descent. #skystorians

The effigy of Peter Capponi carved from stone. He is wearing armour and has his arms together but his hands are now missing. They should be joined in prayer.

The Capponi memorial effigy in St Olave Hart Street.

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Dr Dan O’Brien @drdan.bsky.social · 25/12/2024

Now…if you followed me in the old place you may remember (this might be a bit of a stretch) that Christmas Day is the start of 12 Days of Mortality History Christmas. I’m excited to say that this year will be no different - but it will be ‘12 Graves of Christmas’ #skystorians #christmas

The black grave marker for Erik af Klint. It is made from iron and tapers to a point at the top. The top of the memorial features seven stars cut out of the iron and cross which is in an arch shaped section of removed metal.

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