On a gravestone in the churchyard at Langton Herring, Dorset, England is carved the epitaph, “REMEMBER John Hardy aged 7, Henry Mowlam aged 8, Richard Mowlan aged 6, Charles Vivian aged 8 who died together in 1852 at play in the village limekiln”.
Gravestone at Langton Herring by David Quick
It was reported that the children of the place sometimes amused themselves by running over the layers of limestone during the process of heating, which they could do with safety when the kiln, which stood about 4 1/2 feet high, was full. The stones were heated in layers, placed one upon another.
About 5 o’clock one afternoon, when only the first layer of stones was undergoing the process of heating, four young boys named Charles Vivian aged 8 1/2 years, Henry Moulam 8 years, Richard Moulam 6 years and John Hardy 7 years, climbed over the wall of the kiln to get down on the heated stone. They were immediately overcome by the gas from the stones and suffocated in a few minutes. Another boy was following them, and he narrowly escaped the same fate.
An alarm was soon given and assistance arrived, though the man who first ventured into the kiln to help was himself nearly overcome. Mr Power, surgeon of Abbotsbury was promptly sent for, and previous to his arrival, the Rector of the Parish, the Rev. P.J.C. Trenow, did all he could to revive the boys.
At the funeral, the children were bourne to their graves by eighteen local children clad in white.
In 1992, the small wooden cross which marked the graves of these children was replaced by a stone monument cut and suitably inscribed by a local stone mason and paid for by descendants of the families and local residents.
Caroline Hookway said,
January 11, 2009 at 9:21 am
John Hardy was my third great-grand uncle. I knew of the incident from looking into the family tree, but never expected to see a photo of the gravestone or to find out what had happened. It was so tragic. The other children were related to my Grandfather’s side of the family too.
Thank you
Peter Mowlam said,
September 21, 2009 at 1:34 pm
All three of the boys who died are related to myself, have extensive family tree to include many of the Langton Herring families (Mowlam Vivian Carter Whittle etc.)
Please contact me direct for further information. email petermowlam@supanet.com
Peter Mowlam
Jean Bultitude said,
January 16, 2011 at 2:09 am
Hi Peter
I am descendant from Joseph Vivan (who would be my second Great Grandfather) born abt1797 and died 1856 Lambeth Surrey. On the 1851 census his birth place was St Marrion which I cannot find.
Joseph baptised 7 Jan 1798 (Family Search) or 11 Jun 1797 (Keith Searson) Langton Herring Dorset, I am wondering if you would know anything about him.
Regards Jean
Diane O'Reilly said,
August 18, 2010 at 9:45 pm
I have just recently discovered through my cousin who has done a lot of digging into the family Tree that these boys are ancestors of mine, their brother was a great grandfather (I think) to my grandfather Albert Mowlam of Weymouth, I grew up in the north of England and so have no knowledge of this side until now, I now reside in Canada but have my own children (4 boys) and know how adventurous and impulsive they can be and so I feel really connected to this tragedy… it disturbed me for a long time, 2 of my boys are of a similar age
I am touched and comforted by the beautiful stone and the details of the story that still live on.
Anne Florence Rymer nee Vivian said,
October 23, 2012 at 4:12 pm
Hi Peter I have just visited Langton Herring in search of information about my wife’s family the Vivians and also her Grandmother who was born in Langton Herring in the late 1800′s.Her name was Clara Ellen Hurrell she married her Grandfather Ebeneezer Chapman Vivian. It is such a shame about the tradgedy of the four boys, One of the boy;s was charles Vivian aged 8 and I am wondering if my wife is related to him.
We loved our short visit to the village and will come back at some point to look at the church records. When we were there we got talking to the Landlord of the Elmtree pub and he asked us to keep in touch with him
we also spoke to a guy from Meridian who was filming the church, he told us about the marvelous story about thankful villages My wife thinks it was fate that led us there on the 18th of October she felt a sense of belonging. It would be great to talk to you at some point as the girl that runs the pub said your family had connections with the Elmtree and that you have a lot of knowledge about Langton Herring. Please would you email my wife at rymer875@btinternet.com if you know anything about these two families the Hurrells and the Vivians.
Thank you