iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

I've needed to take a bit of a break from everything online lately, but I have continued research tasks and have enjoyed selling physical printed copies of the Norma Explores magazine (Norfolk Supplement) at my shop, which hopefully means sharing the project with new people. ⬇️

131

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Little Bear wanted to see an alien 👽 in Rendlesham Forest.

130

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 26/10/2025

Day 26 #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'figure' Sadly, this headstone is so badly worn its impossible to make out who lies here. Only the figure remains standing proud of the surface... 📍Holy Trinity, Marham, Norfolk

0221

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

Day 25 #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'graveside ornament' I wanted to share this wonderful thing I found earlier this year. Every war grave has been marked with a Tommy silhouette, even the ones without a headstone. It really highlighted just how many WW1 & WW2 casualties lay here ⬇️⬇️

1171

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

Day 24 #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'unique animal'. Ive taken a bit of a liberty and chosen a reptile 🐢 But I couldn't not share this wonderful tortoise. 📍St John the Baptist, Aylmerton, Norfolk

4285

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

Day 23 #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'cross' It was Christmas Eve when I visited the grave of Fanny Adams. It was also Christmas Eve in 1867 when her murderer was hanged for his crime. Her cross was decorated with tinsel and toys had been left for her. Cont ⬇️⬇️

1211

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

I no longer use tiktok, but I made this video when I visited a couple of years ago.

070

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

Day 22 #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'landscape ' The tiny church of Kirkmaiden, perched on the cliffs on the South West cost of Scotland. Probably one of the prettiest places to be laid to rest 😍 I have shared below a short about one of the burials there ⬇️

1344

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

Day 21 #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'bronze'. An unexpected find in a Somerset cemetery. The grave belongs to Lt Col John Marshall Field MBE. 📍East Coker cemetery, Somerset 📷⬇️

1201

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

Day 20 #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'Wreath' This lovely fruity Wreath is up on the wall inside the parish church and remembers Edward Bunting Loynes - church warden for 54 years. 📍St Nicholas, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk

0193

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

Day 19 #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'Social Group'. I dont know anything about this grave marker, but I like it. 📍All Saints, Faringdon, Oxfordshire

1253

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

Day 18 #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'mistake' A smugglers headstone today to Robert Debney and William Cooper, who died in an unfortunate accident on 22 June 1778. The mistake is that the headstone notes the men as being 28 and 18 respectively, but parish records show Debney was 30. 🧵⬇️⬇️

1163

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

Day 17 #31DaysOfGraves is 'relocated' I've chosen a very old one today. Two Roman coffins, discovered in 1815, which now sit outside of the Norris Museum in St Ives (Huntingdonshire)

2294

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

Day 16 #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'obelisk' The plaque reads 'Sacred to the memory if Henry Nicholas Ground ME of East Howle Colliery. Who died 11th March 1881, aged 31. Erected as a tribute of respect to his memory by the workmen and friends.' 📍Found in St Lukes, Ferryhill, Co. Durham.

0181

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

Day 15 #31DaysOfGraves is 'damaged'. I've chosen this ceramic headstone, one of many in this style in the cemetery. It belongs to Pvt Joseph Gale of the Royal Sussex Regiment. He died in Eastbourne Hospital on March 30th 1916, aged just 24. A casualty of the Great War. 📍South Hetton, Co Durham

1101

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

Day 14 of #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'inside' Not an intentional interior viewing of this collapsed vault, photographed last year. 📍St Thomas a Becket, Ramsey, Huntingdonshire.

1170

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

Day 13 of #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'skeleton' Today, we are at the grave of George Hopper. The tomb has some fantastic carvings, but beware! It is said that if you see Death's scythe move, you will follow George to the other side! ☠️ 📍 St Mary's, Barnard Castle, County Durham.

1141

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 12/10/2025

Day 12 #31DaysOfGraves is Notable Women. I'm sharing one of my favourite effigies.The reclining figure of Rose Claxton, who died in 1601, aged just 23. 📌 St George's Church, Rollesby ▪︎ Norfolk

0131

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

This is the beautifully carved headstone of Cpl Henry Grimwood of the 1st Bttn London Irish Rifles. He died serving his country on April 18th, 1918 - aged just 21 years old This grave is in St Andrews churchyard, Histon, Cambridgeshire His headstone is next to another young veteran of WW1 ⬇️⬇️⬇️

150

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

Its day 11 of #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is military. This was always going to be a difficult one. I primarily record military graves and have almost 10,000 photographed. Their stories are all worth telling, so I decided to select one for aesthetics. Cont.... ⬇️⬇️⬇️

1212

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

Y'know what I dont have pictures of? Urns, apparently. Its day 10 of #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is Urn. After going through about 7000 photos, I came to realise its something I dont photograph 🙈 So please enjoy possibly the only image I have that comes close ⚱️ 📍Cottenham Dissenters Cemetery

1202

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

Day 9 of #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'hand'. I've borrowed an image from my side-quest, The Jeevar Archive, today. The grave is that of Mary Richards. According to local legend she died at the altar, just moments after the wedding ring was placed on her hand as she was being married. 🧵⬇️

1162

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

Day 8 of #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'Glass' Here at St Nicholas' Church, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, the beautiful stained glass window is reflected in the memorial to a son of the town lost in the First World War. Alfred Gordon Calthrop 2nd Lt 11th Bttn Royal Fusiliers. KIA near Ypres.

0242

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

Dovecote Barnack, Huntingdonshire - I dont know exactly where this was or if it is still standing... so if anyone local can enlighten me, I'd be most grateful!! It worldvgave been photographed between 1974 and 1978, I think!

020

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

Day 7 of #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'Angel' I've actually chosen three, all from 📍 All Saints, St Ives, Cambridgeshire. Ive added a close up of the last one, as he's less than angelic looking these days....

1162

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

Her life partner Mary died in 1936 after years of ill health, while Constance lived to an incredible 107 years old, only passing away in 1981. They are buried at St John the Baptist Church, Burley, Hampshire.

090

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

Born in Essex, she left for America to study at Harvard and it was here that she was responsible for introducing the sport of field hockey to her classmates. She went on to promote the sport across the country, eventually founding the American Field Hockey Association and the first US women's club ⬇️

240

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

Day 6 of #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'gender' I've left East Anglia today to bring you the joint grave of 'great friends' Mary Warren Taylor and Constance Applebee. The tablet to Constance is modest, but her contribution to women's sport certainly wasn't. ⬇️ Cont' below ⬇️

1172

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 05/10/2025

One from The Jeevar Archive (Find us on IG!) St John the Baptist, Little Maplestead, Essex • March 1985 Originally a chapel of the Knights Hospitallers. Built around 1340 and largely rebuilt in the mid 1800s. Grade II* listed in 1962 GRID REF : TL 82248 33997 ringside.corrupted.stem

050

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 05/10/2025

Sadly, she died at the scene just after her parents got to her. She is buried at the 12th century round-towered church of St Mary in the village.

030

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 05/10/2025

Brenda lived with her family at The Tank Range in Titchwell, a village along the north Norfolk coast. She had gone to get ice cream with her brother from an van on the main road through the village. After getting her ice cream she ran around the back of the van, into the path of a passing car ⬇️

240

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 05/10/2025

Day 5 of #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is 'bird' I've chosen this beautiful simple this creatures. It sits atop a heart shaped headstone (📷⬇️) belonging to a little girl. 12 year old Brenda Walden was tragically killed on 29th July 1963. I will share her story below. 📍St Mary's Church, Titchwell

1142

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

Day 4 of #31DaysOfGraves is 'languages', & I was reminded of these beautiful headstones in Duncombe Cemetery at Ferryhill, County Durham. I dont often photograph recent graves, but they stood out sitting side by side. Unfortunately, I dont know anything about the lady and gentleman they belong to

1181

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

The tomb is situated in the Anglo-Saxon round-towered church of St Gregory and St George 📍Pentlow, Essex

160

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

There were 10 daughters and 4 sons!

250

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

Day 3 of #31DaysOfGraves is 'tomb'. I've chosen to share the wonderful tomb of Judge George Kempe (1606), his son John (1609) and daughter-in-law Elinore (1609). All three lay side by side on top of the tomb and a side panel depicts John and Elinore's 14 children. Con't below ⬇️⬇️⬇️

1235

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

Day 2 prompt for #31DaysOfGraves is 'nautical' and with so many sailors graves in my archive, I could have picked so many! Ive chosen one I visit often. Please meet Royal Navy Chief Stoker, William Bennett of HMS Mallard. After 21 years service he died at Chatham, Kent on Feb 14th 1919. 🧵⬇️⬇️

1243

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

Dovecote, Broom Manor Cottered, Herts • 1974 - c.1700 of red brick. Grade II listed. The Manor has recently been on the market, and there are pictures online if you want to take a look! Grid Ref: TL 31037 28573 lamenting.booklets.hushed

010

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

I couldn't resist taking part in #31DaysOfGraves Day 1 prompt is 'flowers', so let me introduce you to the beautiful headstone of Jemima Wright. Buried 23rd November 1917. She was 76 years old when she died. 📍St Mary & All Saints Church, Little Walsingham, Norfolk

0449

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

Going through some images from last years travels around the south. The churchyard of St Disen's at Bradninch (Devon) has quite an incline! I had a very peaceful afternoon here looking for the eight CWGC graves here. Those chaps are still on my 'to research' list, along with so many others.

072

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 28/09/2025

Robin's Nest Cottage, Dallinghoo, Suffolk • Feb 1985 - Grade II listed. 16th century timber framed cottage. Gable dated 1541 with later additions. Now a holiday home, should you wish to see inside!! GRID REF: 27199 55088 teardrop.dimension.generals

020

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

Excellent weekend at We Have Ways Fest 2025.

030

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

Market Cross • Castle Rising, Norfolk May 1978 15th century with later restoration. Grade II* listed and a Scheduled Ancient Monument

030

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 27/07/2025

The Maltings • Soham, Cambridgeshire 1976 I am not sure if this still stands or not, so if anyone knows, please let us know!!

000

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Watermill • Butley, Suffolk June 1982 The mill was converted to a luxury home and was on the market earlier this year for £950,000.

030

Norma Explores @normaexplores.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

The Old Forge and Lock Up Burwell, Cambridgeshire • 1985 - In the foreground the building was once the local blacksmiths. The little building to the left was once the lock-up and you can see the grills for the two cells below the roofline.

030