Explore the Past with Grave Search UK
Unlock the secrets of your family history with our comprehensive gravestone database, designed for genealogists by genealogists.
The Importance of Gravestone Records
Gravestone records are vital for genealogical research as they provide unique insights into the lives and legacies of our ancestors. These records often contain crucial information such as birth and death dates, familial connections, and personal inscriptions that help piece together family histories. By preserving these records, we not only honor those who came before us but also empower future generations to understand their heritage. Community contributions play a pivotal role in expanding our database, allowing us to capture a more complete picture of history.
Engaging with gravestone records not only enriches personal genealogical research but also strengthens community ties as we collectively work towards preserving our shared history. By participating in this initiative, you help ensure that the stories of the past remain alive and accessible for generations to come.
Join Our Community of Contributors
Be a part of preserving history by uploading photographs of gravestones and sharing valuable information. Your contributions help build a comprehensive resource for genealogists worldwide. Together, we can create a lasting legacy for future generations.
Latest Contributions
Princess Diana
Princess Diana is buried on a private, tree-covered island in the middle of an ornamental lake called The Oval, located at her family’s ancestral home, Althorp Park in Northamptonshire, England. The burial site is not open to the public, though a visitor center and memorial are available nearby during the summer months.
Roald Dahl
The grave is located in the graveyard to the left of the church, near a tree surrounded by a memorial bench.
BFG Footprints: Oversized footprints inspired by The Big Friendly Giant lead visitors from the memorial bench directly to the burial site.
Memorial Bench: A circular bench around a nearby tree is inscribed with the names of his children and step-children, along with a quote from The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me.
Tributes: Visitors frequently leave “offerings” such as HB pencils, coins, and chocolates (specifically Cadbury bars) on his gravestone.
According to family accounts, Dahl was buried with several of his favourite items, mimicking a “Viking funeral.” These included his snooker cues, bottles of burgundy, chocolates, HB pencils, and a power saw.
Dahl lived in Great Missenden for 36 years at Gipsy House, where he wrote most of his famous works in a small garden hut. His burial site is a short walk from the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre, which is also located in the village.
William Shakespeare
Shakespeare’s grave is in Holy Trinity Church, his local parish church in Stratford upon Avon. Shakespeare died on his birthday – 23 April – in 1616, the day he turned 52.
Shakespeare’s grave is famous for having a curse as an epitaph on his gravestone which Shakespeare himself wrote. Relic hunting was popular in Shakespeare’s day, and Shakespeare was aware his status as a leading writer may have meant his bones would be dug up by one of the hunters.