Cemetery at Saint-Roch (L'Ecluse), a sample of bronze applications

The cemetery around the Saint-Rochues church in l'Ecluse is special because of its sample of bronze applications by the artists Norga, Hautvenne and Portaels. Interesting are the tombs with Art Deco signature. Not all graves are made of bluestone, but we also see tombstones made of similistic stone and heavy-white tiles. Only a few graves stand out as burial vaults of wealthier families. Against the church wall hangs a white stone epitaph. The oldest tomb dates from the middle of the 18th century and bears the text:

HIC JACET SEPULTUS - NOBILIS DOMINUS MICHAEL - LUDOVICUS DE L'ESCANO, EQUES - TOPARCHA DE L'ECLUSE, QUI - PRO SE SUISQUE HEREDIBUS - HOC MONUMENTUM POSUIT - OBIIT 15 9bris 1751. R.I.P.

[Here lies buried - noble lord MICHAEL - LEWIS DE L'ESCANO, KNIGHT - LORD OF L'ECLUSE, WHO - FOR HIMSELF AND HIS HEIRS ERECTED THIS MONUMENT - DIED 15 9BRIS 1751. R.I.P.]

Jan Rymenams