The Common

The Victorian were obsessed with death and took great responsibility in remembering their loved ones who had passed away and celebrating their lives. So during one of our lessons we went as a group to The Common in Southampton where there is a graveyard to see one way in which people are remembered. It's interesting to look at the different headstones and see how people who passed away a long time ago are still remembered just as those who have passed away recently. Although the ways in which a lot of people remember the deceased and the rituals that take place have changed over time the theme of  marking their live and death still remains the same with the placement of graves and headstones. 

I photographed the graveyard to help me remember the experience of visiting and I also photographed buildings and objects along the route to The Common that I thought looked a bit gothic or the architecture was very decorative just like I would imagine Miss Havisham's house to be.

 The iron railings in these photographs look Gothic to me because of their design and colour. Also the moss and plants growing around them show they have been there for a long time just as at Miss Havisham's house nothing has changed since her wedding day so if their were railings in the house grounds they would have been there for many years.

These are some examples of architecture that i thought was quite grand  with some intricate details some of which remind me slightly of the Victorian style of buildings.

 I photographed some of the landscape around The Common because as it was a winters day the trees were bare and some foliage had died which made the area look old and derelict. The area also looked a bit mysterious because of the vase amounts of  large old trees with crooked shaped branches, they looked like they could be the setting for a creepy film scene.

When we think of people who have died we often remember their character and their interests which made up their personality which we loved so much. On this grave an archer has been used which makes me think the person may have had links to the navy or spent time at sea. 

This grave has elaborate carvings which could have meant the family had money or saved up so they could afford to have a grand headstone to remember the person they loved.  

I found this stone on the way to The Common and thought it was nice how it had been placed to show people how things have changed over time. It was also being used to remember the events of the past just like people want to remember the deceased and the events in their lives.