A SERVICE and graveside dedication in honour of Charlotte Dymond was held at Davidstow Church on Sunday, June 18.

Over 40 people were in attendance to see Charlotte finally have a proper headstone, 173 years after she was buried at the church after being murdered on the slopes of Roughtor in 1844.

For over 100 years, Charlotte’s grave was marked by a small broken cross which fell off the church roof. This made it extremely difficult for some people to find her.

In 2001 the Goodenough family of Higher Tremail Farm donated a flat burial stone to mark where she rested. However, people wanted an upright headstone erected and to help fund this, three local musicians — Lynn Henderson, Josie Whale and Estelle Langthorne — performed a concert.

Eventually, enough money had been pieced together and the headstone was created with Sunday, June 18 seeing the official opening.

Following a service, which saw six hymns and a reading from Charles Causley’s poem ‘The Ballard of Charlotte Dymond’ by churchwarden Bill Pearce, the congregation gathered at Charlotte’s grave, where a short blessing and ceremony was held.

Everyone then headed back to the church, where they enjoyed a fine finger buffet from Ann Hayne, Fran Baker and Hazel Sanders.

Mr Pearce said it was a great day, adding: “It was a lovely service, although the weather was perhaps too good. The story of Charlotte Dymond means a lot to people with a man coming from Hayle and a minister from Aberystwyth in Wales to be part of the day, although a few of our regulars weren’t there which probably had a lot to do with the weather.

“Once the service had taken place we held a short ceremony to dedicate the headstone and then we tucked into some lovely food by the ladies.

“They do an excellent job time after time in very meagre conditions, all off their own back, which is always very much appreciated.

“Some of the first time visitors to the church commented on how lovely the church is and also on the quality of the food.

“But the main thing is at least Charlotte now has a headstone, which everyone can be proud of.”