2017 LEGACY PHOTO COLLECTION BY WILLIAM MURPHY
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There is a Gresham family vault in Mount Jerome Cemetery, Dublin, and it’s quite a unique one! It was fitted with a bell to allay the fears of a woman terrified of being buried alive. Let’s delve into the reasons behind this fear and the curious spelling on the vault.
Fear of Being Buried Alive in the 1840s
In the 1840s, the fear of being buried alive, known as taphophobia, was far from unreasonable. Medical knowledge and diagnostic tools were limited compared to today. Here’s why:
Misdiagnosis: Conditions like coma, catalepsy (a nervous system disorder causing muscular rigidity and unconsciousness), and even profound fainting could be mistaken for death.
Limited Technology: Doctors relied on basic observations like checking for a pulse or breathing, which could be difficult to detect in some cases. Stethoscopes were relatively new and not universally used.
Rapid Burial: Due to the lack of embalming and refrigeration, bodies often decomposed quickly, especially in warmer climates. This led to hasty burials, sometimes within 24 hours of death, increasing the risk of burying someone alive.
The “Vavlt” Spelling
The use of “v” instead of “u” in inscriptions on older cemeteries and graveyards in Britain and Ireland is linked to historical changes in the English language:
Latin Influence: Latin was the language of scholarship and the Church for centuries. In Latin, “v” and “u” were essentially interchangeable.
“V” for “U” Sound: In early English, the letter “v” was often used to represent both the “v” and “u” sounds, especially at the beginning of words.
Carving Styles: The “v” shape may have been easier to carve in stone than the curved “u,” particularly in elaborate scripts.
This spelling quirk adds an extra layer of historical intrigue to these old inscriptions.
The Gresham Family and the Gresham Hotel
Many years ago I was informed by a tour guide that the Greshams owned the famous Gresham Hotel. However, while the Gresham family vault is a prominent feature in Mount Jerome Cemetery, there doesn’t appear to be a direct genealogical link to Thomas Gresham, the founder of the Gresham Hotel in Dublin.
Thomas Gresham had a fascinating story himself:
Foundling: He was abandoned as a baby on the steps of the Royal Exchange in London and named after Sir Thomas Gresham, a famous Elizabethan merchant.
From Butler to Hotelier: He worked his way up from a servant to owning and operating a successful lodging house in Dublin, which eventually became the renowned Gresham Hotel.
Although a direct family connection to the Gresham Hotel is unlikely, the Gresham family vault with its unique bell serves as a reminder of the historical anxieties surrounding death and burial. It also offers a glimpse into the evolution of language and inscription practices, adding to the rich tapestry of history found within Mount Jerome Cemetery.