I came across this at the bottom of the big steps at the western end of Aberafan Beach when I was home last year:
MARK 4 TARA xx
Okay, I can see that the '4' might irritate the traditionally romantic and chivalrous amongst us but the two little kisses more than make up for the deviation from tradition.
I'm drawn to words cut into stone. Perhaps we all are. (God knew what he was doing when he conjured up the Ten Commandments for Moses!)
I'm drawn to words cut into stone. Perhaps we all are. (God knew what he was doing when he conjured up the Ten Commandments for Moses!)
Entrance to St Joseph's Church, Aberafan.
On a gravestone in St Catharine's Churchyard, Baglan.
Old gravestone turned flagstone in Margam Abbey Church.
I doubt that Mark (or Tara) had eternity in mind when they cut their names into the concrete. Perhaps the people who carved these other words weren't thinking about it either: stonemasons completing a job of work for the money their customers were offering.
But they feel personal to me when I look up or down at them. It would have taken time to make them. Perhaps there would have been the brushing away of dust and small chips. There might have been chatter, tears, a kiss.
It's good to wonder about what we see, imagine the people who once lived, worked, played and died in the same place as we live now. We might be separated by time but we're connected by the land and our common humanity. And after all, it's people that bring history alive.
(And if you want to do more than wonder then you can read. Check out the Bibliography page on this website: such a wealth of local history resources. Many of the books can be found in local Libraries or may be available to borrow from friendly PTHS members.)
But they feel personal to me when I look up or down at them. It would have taken time to make them. Perhaps there would have been the brushing away of dust and small chips. There might have been chatter, tears, a kiss.
It's good to wonder about what we see, imagine the people who once lived, worked, played and died in the same place as we live now. We might be separated by time but we're connected by the land and our common humanity. And after all, it's people that bring history alive.
(And if you want to do more than wonder then you can read. Check out the Bibliography page on this website: such a wealth of local history resources. Many of the books can be found in local Libraries or may be available to borrow from friendly PTHS members.)
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