Spooky Historical Cemetery

FORCED to take a detour because the route I wanted to use was blocked by workmen, I cut through a cemetery near Old Street in EC1

What with its large gravestones and numerous tombs, it looked like a film set from a teen horror movie - and this was in broad daylight.

In fact Bunhill Fields is a burial ground that saw more than 120,000 interments from 1665 until it officially closed in 1854.

Among the graves of the well-known are those of Daniel Defoe, John Bunyan and William Blake.

But the one that caught my eye was a monument to Dame Mary Page, who came to an unfortunate end. 

Mary Page's tomb

The inscription in the photo above reads:

Here lyes Dame Mary Page

Relict of Sir Gregory Page Bart.

She departed this life March 4 1728

In the 56th year of her age.

Notable are the archaic spelling of "lies" and the use of "relict" to mean widow.

The reverse of the tomb is also interesting.

The other side of Dame Mary's tomb

In 67 months she was tap'd 66 times.

Had taken away 240 gallons of water

without ever repining at her case

or  ever fearing the operation.

It has been speculated she suffered from Meigs syndrome: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meigs%27s_syndrome