On Wednesday 30th May 2018 – I went in search of Flora Thompson’s final resting place. I had little idea as to exactly where her book-shaped headstone was, other than it was somewhere through these gates…
Entrance to ‘Longcross Cemetery’ – Dartmouth, Devon.
It was earlier this year, that the screen adaptation of Flora Thompson’s ‘Lark Rise to Candleford’ saw us through five long weeks of an Internet blackout! Most evenings we’d settle down to watch a couple episodes – sometimes three in a go – until we’d watched all four series back to back. Since watching the credits roll at the end of the last episode of the last series – I’d been meaning to visit Flora’s grave to simply say ‘thank you’ for preserving the past so vividly. Even if in the name of entertainment, the BBC’s adaptation of ‘Lark Rise’ is a ‘no smells’ embroidered tapestry of her reality. The larger-than-life cast of characters are All equally memorable, although ‘Queenie’, ‘Dorcas’ and ‘Thomas’ stole the show for me.
Flora’s legacy.
A thick blanket of sea mist only enhanced our visit to the sepulchral quarter of Dartmouth; perfect weather conditions for aimfully wandering around the cemetery in search of our Oxfordshire heroine – who was everywhere…
On the way out, I happened to spy a beautiful, bejeweled spider’s web clinging to the craggy edifice of the tallest tree in the cemetery. It just somehow magically caught my eye even though it was way above eye level… 
Immediately I remembered Flora’s parting passage from ‘Lark Rise’ – “As she went on her way, gossamer threads, spun from bush to bush, barricaded her pathway, and as she broke through one after another of these fairy barricades she thought, ‘They’re trying to bind and keep me’. But the threads which were to bind her to her native county were more enduring than gossamer. They were spun of love and kinship and cherished memories.”
We finished our homage to Flora – with an evening meal on Brixham seafront; Brixham the place, where Flora passed from this World to the Next…
‘Waiting for a tug on the line’. View through a car windscreen – as our ‘Simply Fish’ takeaway supper went down a treat!
Flora died aged seventy from a heart attack – in 1947. Her final resting place is situated at the far end of a suitably maintained row of War Graves… 
In contrast, Flora’s quiet plot nestles in it’s own shaded corner facing inward to the encroaching hedge – where Mother Nature is slowly——inextricably reclaiming her Own.
Tragically and touchingly, beside Flora’s name – is that of ‘Peter Redmond Thompson’ – her younger son who was lost at sea during the Second World War; I think she died of heartbreak…
Flora’s last Will and Testament stated “if any headstone should be erected to my memory I wish that the name of our beloved son Peter Redmond Thompson shall appear thereon.”
“Thank you.”
As is Nature’s wont. One of a number of long-forgotten corners in Longcross Cemetery.
In memory of Flora Thompson – 5 December 1876 to 21 May 1947.
That was so lovely Melanie. I wish I was that spider, surely that is the most wonderful home.
So glad you enjoyed your misty wander around ‘Longcross Cemetery’ too – lovely to hear from Down Under again – thank you Tina for popping by and leaving a comment, it’s appreciated. X.
Yes the spider’s home was an absolute find – it was seeing it, that suddenly gave me the thread to weave my post about Flora around; clever little creatures are garden spiders…
Thank you so much for your post. It helped me locate the grave straightaway a few days ago. It’s nice isn’t it that it faces the hedge and the nature she loved so much. Unfortunately the grave didn’t look as picturesque as it does in your excellent photos from a year ago. The brambles and nettles were getting the better of it. Maybe a bit less so now. Best wishes.
Dear John, I’m absolutely delighted that my Flora Thompson inspired post has helped you find her resting spot – and thank you for your update on the state of the ever encroaching greenery! And it’s always nice to hear that a visitor has enjoyed looking at my photographs – thank you so much for commenting so positively. Best wishes, Melanie
Thank you so much for your post about Flora Thompson and for all of the lovely photos that you included. I am a big fan of her work. I had gone to Find A Grave to see her memorial, but I wasn’t able to read it as well as I was in your beautiful photos. I love your writing. It was great fun to read!
I’m absolutely delighted to receive such generous praise from a big fan of Flora’s work – THANK YOU Denise! X
can’t someone remove all the vegetation encroaching over the headstone?? If everyone that visited kept doing it it would not be lost?? who maintains the rest of the cemetary? why do they neglect/ignore Flora’s??
…Hi there, thank you for your comment Kaylouise. I haven’t visited for well over a year so don’t know the present state of encroachment. I’m sure somebody tends Flora’s grave or otherwise it would be completely overgrown. It’s a nice idea of yours especially if there are no relatives living close-by to tend to it anymore.