Tuesday, 17 January 2012

Famous Graves: Sylvia Plath

Hebden Bridge
Hebden Bridge
So I had a day out in Hebden Bridge and took the short trip to Heptonstall to find the grave of the poet, Sylvia Plath. One time wife of Ted Hughes, and famous for her eventual suicide, her confessional poetry has long been held in high esteem, although I personally am not a fan. The inscription, added by Hughes, reads "Even amidst fierce flames the golden lotus can be planted"
However, one of the little hobbies I use to ease my own depression (rarely successfully) is cemetery photography (I would love to get more into portraits but I am not the best "people person" and angels on gravestones don't move and talk back).
Below are some of the photographs taken at Heptonstall Church. Plath's grave is in a newer plot of interments, and there are two other older graveyards adjacent, a  church built after 1847 when the old church - originally built in 1260 - was left to ruin when it was damaged by gales. The ruins that remain are stunning, and worth the visit to this lovely little village on their own. Apparently Danny Boyle's BBCTV drama Mr Wroe's Virgins (1993) was filmed there, I shall have to dig out a copy and check for myself.
I'm glad I took the short bus ride up though, as it's a very steep walk, only about half a mile but it would have wrecked my legs!

Sylvia Plath gravestone closeup

Heptonstall
Heptonstall

Heptonstall church


sylvia plath grave suicide



sylvia plath grave bell jar


syliva plath grave

sylvia plath grave
Enjoy the photographs, I may start to include more of my cemetery photography in time.

1 comment:

  1. I've included one of your grave photos for a short story on my blog. I have given photo credit to you on the page as you requested. You can find the story here: http://bit.ly/1wVbnHi

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