Well I had read somewhere that the combination of lead cups and ale or whisky sometimes would knock someone out for awhile leading someone to think that they were dead and burying them. Oh I can't imagine waking up with a major hangover and in a coffin to boot! :shocked:
Full Version: Saved by the bell?
Thanks Gillaume le Castlein! I finally made it here Well I had read somewhere that the combination of lead cups and ale or whisky sometimes would knock someone out for awhile leading someone to think that they were dead and burying them. Oh I can't imagine waking up with a major hangover and in a coffin to boot! :shocked:
Well I had read somewhere that the combination of lead cups and ale or whisky sometimes would knock someone out for awhile leading someone to think that they were dead and burying them. Oh I can't imagine waking up with a major hangover and in a coffin to boot! :shocked:
I just pinched this today,
Oddly Enough - UK Reuters
Dig up dead to make more room?
2 hours, 21 minutes ago
LONDON (Reuters) - Rapidly running out of burial space, authorities in England and Wales are contemplating digging up the dead to make room for more.
Extra space may be created in packed cemeteries by exhuming remains and re-using old plots following a review of antiquated burial laws launched on Thursday.
One option under review is the exhumation and reburial of bodies in deeper graves to allow coffins to be laid on top, a method known as "lift and deepen".
Alternatively, ancient remains may be moved to more distant sites so that the newly dead can be buried closer to their homes.
"The public must have a realistic choice in the funeral arrangements for their relatives and cemeteries must be well managed and accessible," Home Office Minister Paul Goggins said in a statement.
Faith groups, industry representatives and the public have been invited to air their views on burial procedures as part of the review of burial law, which could put paid to the notion that graves should remain undisturbed for all time.
The government review suggests allowing remains to be disturbed 100 years after burial.
Oddly Enough - UK Reuters
Dig up dead to make more room?
2 hours, 21 minutes ago
LONDON (Reuters) - Rapidly running out of burial space, authorities in England and Wales are contemplating digging up the dead to make room for more.
Extra space may be created in packed cemeteries by exhuming remains and re-using old plots following a review of antiquated burial laws launched on Thursday.
One option under review is the exhumation and reburial of bodies in deeper graves to allow coffins to be laid on top, a method known as "lift and deepen".
Alternatively, ancient remains may be moved to more distant sites so that the newly dead can be buried closer to their homes.
"The public must have a realistic choice in the funeral arrangements for their relatives and cemeteries must be well managed and accessible," Home Office Minister Paul Goggins said in a statement.
Faith groups, industry representatives and the public have been invited to air their views on burial procedures as part of the review of burial law, which could put paid to the notion that graves should remain undisturbed for all time.
The government review suggests allowing remains to be disturbed 100 years after burial.
When I visited the monastery at Saint Catherine’s, Sinai, I visited the building... forget what its called... where they placed the remains of monks they had dug up to make room for more graves. The bones are piled very respectfully, and it has a bit of a spooking feeling about it, with all the vigil candles casting a other-worldly glow about the skulls. Apparently, at Saint Catherine’s there is still a regular rotation.
I’ll see if I can dig up something about the bells. I remember hearing a story of a similar practice, but I think that might have been colonial New England. Perhaps AJ or Gordon could help us out on this one.
Welcome to the board, Raven! :beerchug:
--David :sheildsmile:
I’ll see if I can dig up something about the bells. I remember hearing a story of a similar practice, but I think that might have been colonial New England. Perhaps AJ or Gordon could help us out on this one.
Welcome to the board, Raven! :beerchug:
--David :sheildsmile:
Thanks so much! finally I can set my mind to rest 
QUOTE
Can any one tell me if this true or just a old wives tale? this is posted on a website for our local renisance faire ~ England is old and small and they started running out of places to bury people. So, they would dig up coffins and would take their bones to a house and reuse the grave.
I have never heard of this happening in England, not saying it didn't but its some thing I've never ran across.
Yes to the rest of your question, and it happened here in the states far to often.
I was aware of the bell and string being used often though out the century's, but not of the digging up of the coffins. That I have to admit was a new one on me in the UK.
Although not on an equal to some other research references, I believe E. A. Poe mentioned it in several of his storeys.
Graduate students of folklore are not the only ones who hold this distinction. :Eyecrazy:
Although not on an equal to some other research references, I believe E. A. Poe mentioned it in several of his storeys.
Graduate students of folklore are not the only ones who hold this distinction. :Eyecrazy:
Can any one tell me if this true or just a old wives tale? this is posted on a website for our local renisance faire ~ England is old and small and they started running out of places to bury people. So, they would dig up coffins and would take their bones to a house and reuse the grave. In reopening these coffins, one out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized
they had been burying people alive. So they thought they would tie a string on their wrist and lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night to listen for the bell. Hence on the "graveyard shift" they would know that someone was "saved by the bell" or he was a "dead ringer."
they had been burying people alive. So they thought they would tie a string on their wrist and lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night to listen for the bell. Hence on the "graveyard shift" they would know that someone was "saved by the bell" or he was a "dead ringer."
Well I did some research, if that’s what you want to call it. I called an old friend of mine who once studied folklore (yes, there are actually graduate level programs in folklore), and she told me that she was quite certain that such practices were once common in some parts of jolly old England, especially in the 17th century. Where, exactly, she couldn’t recall. She said there was reference to the practice in one of Charles Dickens’ books and other literary sources, but once again she couldn’t remember exactly which titles... which just goes to show, if you have a question, but only want a partial answer, a former graduate student of folklore is your best source! Just kidding, of course :jump1:
--David :sheildsmile:
--David :sheildsmile:
Thanks for the different take on an age old subject. Click to view attachment
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