A surfeit of memorial benches

No it isn't a trivial topic. It is serious enough to be causing concern to local councils.

As I made clear at the start, I have no objection to memorial benches, it is is the excessive number of them in some places, where they sterilise large green spaces making it difficult for children to play or for any one who wants to picnic or or even just wander across and enjoy expanses of open land,

I live opposite the town parish church facing onto the churchyard, which is crisscrossed with paths and there are about half a dozen memorial benches. along the paths, which are well used, altough I have never seen them all in use at once. I have no problems with those at all. However, if there were 50 benches in the churchyard, threaded between the grave stones, and forming barriers along the paths, then yes, I would object to them.

I live opposite the town parish church facing onto the churchyard, which is crisscrossed with paths and there are about half a dozen memorial benches. along the paths, which are well used, altough I have never seen them all in use at once. I have no problems with those at all. However, if there were 50 benches in the churchyard, threaded between the grave stones, and forming barriers along the paths, then yes, I would object to them

On your own admission you have recently moved to your present home- it is none of your business if a churchyard which has been in existence for hundreds of years containing generations of locals has benches or not!
It’s like those people who move next to a church and complain about the bells, or to the country and complain about cocks crowing.
Unbelievable.

I think the difference between what the OP is seeing and what I saw yesterday is that the literally 100s of benches I saw in a large area were not at all in the way. The fields, lawns and grassy river banks where people could picnic and children play were completely free of benches. The benches were all back against walls or hedges and didnt impinge on the terrace spaces. They didn't block the pathways at all or make barriers. And not one of the 100s had any form of decoration apart from the small plaques or carved inscriptions. They were part of the scenery and would be greatly used on a sunny weekend.

But had they been spread across the grassy areas like rows of deckchairs on a crowded beach it would have totally spoilt the view and prevented children playing etc

The whole area was litter free as well which by today's standards was impressive.

Calendargirl

Personally, I like reading the plaques on benches, seeing who they are in memory of.

But I also wander around graveyards, reading the inscriptions on them.

My DH thinks it’s morbid, but there are some lovely quotes on many of them.

I also think there’s no place for tacky plastic flowers, ornaments, teddy bears ….

I agree 100% Calendargirl.

Benches with plaques are fine
Plastic tat and teddy bears are not
Much as I am fond of teddy bears but they have their place and that is not getting soaked and bedraggled on a bench outside.

RosiesMawagain

^I live opposite the town parish church facing onto the churchyard, which is crisscrossed with paths and there are about half a dozen memorial benches. along the paths, which are well used, altough I have never seen them all in use at once. I have no problems with those at all. However, if there were 50 benches in the churchyard, threaded between the grave stones, and forming barriers along the paths, then yes, I would object to them^

On your own admission you have recently moved to your present home- it is none of your business if a churchyard which has been in existence for hundreds of years containing generations of locals has benches or not!
It’s like those people who move next to a church and complain about the bells, or to the country and complain about cocks crowing.
Unbelievable.

Since I am happy and like the churchyard opposite, what is the problem? I live, effectivly, in a new town,populated mainly by immigrants, London overspill in the 1960s-90s, other nationalities since. The churchyard has been closed since the mid 19th century, so few, if any families living locally have any connection with the inhabitants of the churchyard.

I enjoy the bells, they practice for an hour on Friday evening and have me up and about bright and early on Sundays, what is there not to like?

You seem to be getting very annoyed about something entirely suppositious

I wish memorial benches could be more spread out sometimes walk for miles in lovely countryside and would give anything for somewhere to sit and have our lunch. Instead of perched on a damp broken down wall likely to be covered in damp moss. Think I might set the trend.

I love my benches in our garden. Tbey are aluminium so very light to move about. They stay out all year so are ready for me to sit with coffee anytime.

nanna8

They don’t really have that trend here, probably no one has thought of it. There are not that many benches around really, I can’t actually think of any round here except a couple in local parks. The other extreme I suppose because we could do with a couple more here and there. In the shopping centres they have them ( not memorial ones ) but mostly they want you to go in a cafe and spend money !

They have them in NSW nanna. My DD’s next door neighbour is remembered by a bench overlooking the beach.
This, not very good, photo seems to be popular over in Aus. Some of the decorated rocks were lovely. I seem to have missed them though.

I have no problems with those at all. However, if there were 50 benches in the churchyard, threaded between the grave stones, and forming barriers along the paths, then yes, I would object to them
Yes but there aren't, so who's being
"Suppositious" ?

Gwyllt

I wish memorial benches could be more spread out sometimes walk for miles in lovely countryside and would give anything for somewhere to sit and have our lunch. Instead of perched on a damp broken down wall likely to be covered in damp moss. Think I might set the trend.

You go for it girl!😄

Gwyllt

I wish memorial benches could be more spread out sometimes walk for miles in lovely countryside and would give anything for somewhere to sit and have our lunch. Instead of perched on a damp broken down wall likely to be covered in damp moss. Think I might set the trend.

Families usually arrange for memorial benches to be placed in a particular place where their loved ones enjoyed the view.

It always surprises me when I see a single person sitting slap bang in the middle of a bench as if they do not want anybody else to sit down. Often they put a bag or rucksack next to them to claim more space.