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A Belvoir Angel headstone: To Mary Patchet who beparted this life the 29th day of May Anno Domini 1719 in the 59 year of her age. Winged angel with big hair is at the bottom under the inscription. The angel symbol was intended to encourage the departed soul to ascend to heaven. Its use, in this style, was particular to a school of engravers on Swithland slate, who were based in the vale of Belvoir (probably at Hickling, see more of my pictures of them in the churchyard there). They produced this true folk-art in the period 1700 to 1750. The work of several differend hands can be recognised, often on the same slate. The limited literacy (eg the reversed d and the squashed up age seen here) does not detract from the spontaneous beauty of their work. (Photo Nov 2013).