Ledger Stones
 |
| Ledger Stone in the Cathedral in Barcelona |
Ledger
stones have been used for centuries to mark graves. Many times the stone was
laid in the floor of the cathedral or church to mark the burial spot of an
important person. An inscription was usually chiseled into the top, which was
adorned with intricate designs or a family coat of arms.
Ledger
stones were made of black marble, white marble or Sussex marble, a fossilized
limestone type of rock. Alabaster was popular for cathedral floors as was
slate. Ledger stones were susceptible to wear when placed flush with a church
floor but this designation indicated someone who had found favor within the
church. Today, bronze and marble are popular for ledger tops.
Ledger
gravestones lie flat on the ground. Full ledger stones cover the entire top of
the grave. Ledger stones were also fitted on top of box or chest graves, and
table or pedestal tombs.
Box and Chest Tombs
 |
| Box Tombs in Perryville Kentucky |
Box
and chest tombs were popular during the early and middle 1800s. These rectangular
boxes were usually made of local materials, usually stone or brick. Box
tombs were smaller in size than chest tombs. In England, a box tomb designated
someone of a poorer background. In the U.S., the size of the tomb did not have
a hidden meaning. If the chest tomb was placed on a large flat base, it was
known as an alter tomb. The body was not placed in either the box or chest but
was buried underneath the memorial. The ledger stone could be heavily designed
or left unadorned.
Pedestal and Table Tombs
 |
| Pedestal Tomb |
A
pedestal tomb is taller than a chest tomb and can come in several shapes
including square, round, oval and three cornered.
 |
| Table Stone Marker |
A
table tomb has a raised ledger top, which looks like a tabletop, and is
supported by four columns or legs that rest on a landing stone.
All
of these grave markers were popular during the first part of the Nineteenth
century. Today, ledger stones are once again in demand as cemeteries encourage
monuments to be flush to the ground making lawn maintenance easier.
~ Joy
