Sacred Ground, Lundy

Situated next to the Old Light is Beacon Hill cemetery, the graveyard sits atop the remains of an Iron Age settlement. At the centre of the cemetery is a chamber thought to be that of an early Christian saint whilst against the west wall are four inscribed grave markers dating from 5th to 7th centuries AD. More recently it memorialises people whose lives have influenced the Lundy that we experience today. Foremost William Hudson Heaven (1834) who spent most of his time in The Villa (now known as Millcombe Villa). He had the beach road constructed and some of the buildings made into accomodation. Both these now allow people easier access to visit and stay on the Island. It also and makes the transportation of goods much easier. W. H. Heaven died in 1883.

Martin Coles Harman (1885-1954) bought Lundy and wanted it to be a Haven of peace and natural beauty. He was responsible for introducing many of the animals that we enjoy on lundy today including the sika deer and Soay Sheep. He ran the island as his private kingdom, relying for the actual organisation on his agent (and childhood friend), Felix Gade 1890-1978.

There is something special about walking around this quiet but often windy place.  It evokes a sense of curiosity and reflection on the lives of those buried there. how they lived day to day and how this compares to the way that we now live on Lundy. With WIFI, albeit intermittent we can keep in touch with people and the world at large.

I trace the family connections, by quietly walking amongst the graves. Reading the inscriptions, I pause and give grattitude to the people whose love of Lundy has made Lundy what it is today; an escape from the busy and noisy mainland life. Tracing the names on the gravestones with my finger trying to decode the inscriptions, somewhat obscured by the lichen. The lichen here is healthy, it clambers over the headstones, it thrives on the fresh clean air which comes in from the atlantic. The tactility of the lichen begs it to be stroked. Time spent in this space definately calms your mind, I sit and sketch here sometimes, as if you are lucky, you can just drop down under the wind. Sometimes you can hear the sea, the wild Westerley wind, the salty air. Looking 360 degrees you can see Wales, Devon, and on a clear day Cornwall. This is why I created my temporary labyrinth here on Beacon Hill, a place of deep meditation and history. Walking around the labyrinth, concentrating on just putting one foot in front ot the other, walking in the footsteps of those who have gone before.

Lichen growing like a carpet on the headstone