Raising the stones
IN a village in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, residents havequietly struck a blow for common sense. In finding a way to raise the previously flattened gravestones in Aysgarth churchyard, while staying within the onerous health and safety laws of modern Britain, they have demonstrated an admirable spirit of invention.
Their actions, which use a method dating from the 19th century, are about more than just learning to live within the rules, which are there to prevent a repeat of the tragedy in which a six-year-old boy died when a gravestone fell on him in Harrogate 10 years ago.
Their sense of initiative is helping to restore the graveyard to something approaching its original appearance while boosting local pride. The ageing gravestones are part of the character of Aysgarth Church. Preserving the stones and raising them again mean many more generations will be able to come to visit, to reflect and to remember their forebears.