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As a group of second year history students at Southampton University, we were given the opportunity to research death in Southampton during the Victorian period. At first we were obviously a bit apprehensive about studying such a morbid and melancholy subject, but as we delved deeper into the subject of death, we found that it was in fact quite a lively and interesting topic. |
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We found ourselves spending a lengthy amount of time in Southampton Old Cemetery, trawling through masses of graves to assess how the Victorian citizens of Southampton dealt with death. Throughout our project, the Friends of Southampton Old Cemetery (FoSOC) have provided us with an excellent focal point from which our research has been able to grow and develop. We are particularly indebted to John Avery and Gillie Blake of FoSOC, who took the time to guide us around the cemetery and transferred their enthusiasm for the topic to us all. We are also very grateful for the help of George Payne, head of the local R. C. Payne undertakers of Bitterne, who provided us with information on funeral traditions of the Victorian period, and the curators of the Museum Service Warehouse who allowed us to view and handle first-hand the genuine Victorian mourning jewellery. |
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Thanks must also go to Tim Oliver, who filmed the following video, and to Tom Wright who hosted this web page.
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