Photo copyright Andrew Ziminski FSA SPAB

This is a fine and expressive epitaph to a blacksmith, Thomas Bevan, who died in 1774 in Eardisley, Herefordshire. Under the carvings of blacksmith tools at the top of the headstone is this epitaph:

‘My sledge and hammer lies declined.

My bellows have quite lost its wind;

My forge’s extinct, my fires decayed

My vices in the dust all laid.

My coal is spent, my iron is gone,

My nails are drove, my work is one.

My fire-dryd corps lies here at rest

My foul (soul) smoak like is soaring to be blest.’

I found this on stonemason Andrew Ziminski’s Twitter or X (whatever it’s called now) and is used with his permission.  He has an interesting account and he has published 2 books on his work and his travels around country churches. ‘Stonemason: A History of Building Britain’ and a forthcoming on in October 2024, ‘Churchgoing; A Stonemason’s Guide to the Churches of the British Isles.’ Always interesting posts – this is his address. https://twitter.com/natchjourneyman