I hope that you enjoy navigating this site and discovering more about your ancestors and where they lived. I have been busily documenting the remaining 18th, 19th and 20th century gravestones to be found in the churchyards and cemeteries across County Durham for the last 2 years. This site is the product of that research and hopefully contains some of your ancestors. The following slide show lists some of the churches that I have visited and I hope that you take the time to take a look at some of the glorious images that I have uploaded. Having done so perhaps you will be encouraged to view a few more pages of lastrp.com which is brimming with Durham history. Do check out the blog page which is cram packed with pictures and articles which you will find equally interesting and informative.
How do I research a name? You can start by putting your surname in the search box contained on every page and press enter. This will list all gravestones recorded under that name within our database including the date of death. Many of the entries contain complete transcripts, those that do not may be requested. This is a free transcription service.
How do I research a churchyard or cemetery? Visit the page marked “Gravestones A – Z”. Move your mouse over the churchyard images contained on the page. They are laid out in alphabetical order and the name of the churchyard/cemetery will appear as you do so. Once you have found the churchyard you are looking for, simply click the icon and scroll down the page. All the gravestones recorded for that churchyard will be displayed in alphabetical order, listing 20 stones per page.
Does the site only cover Co. Durham graves? The site was set up to cover County Durham, but since its launch it has been expanded to include a large section on Pembroke, Wales, courtesy of Mr Owen Vaughan. A further two sections cover a wider military search option and extensive indexes of British Military and ex-pat burials in Cyprus.
Why would I register when access is free? Registration brings several benefits. Firstly, by inputting a little bit of information relating to your research I am able to advise you whenever additional named gravestones are added to the site. Secondly registered members receive a regular newsletter informing them of new additions to the site and planned activities to enable them to request a search or photograph of a specific plot. As the site is developed members will be able to interact with each other in order to share information, photographs and documents.
Are there any charges? High resolution images of the gravestones may be downloaded for a nominal charge of between £1 and £3. Often I will forward additional images (free of charge) if I believe they may be of use to the purchaser, i.e. a similar unrecorded stone in close proximity, images of the churchyard etc.
What else is on the site? Do read my blog, do surf the site, it is packed full of interesting articles, facts and details, much of which cannot be found anywhere else.
Thanks for reading. Enjoy your visit and I look forward to helping you with your research.
David Hamilton
