Elizabeth Smith

Not knowing anything about headstone symbols I checked online  and using the web site headstonesymbols.co.uk this headstone appears, to me, to simply represent Life and Death.

Eggy, you've marked a couple of items with red question marks. The object to the right is a bone (probably the lower end of a femur) and the one on the left is the handle of the gravedigger's spade. Both are momento mori reminding the viewer of what is to come to him and every other mortal being. The book represents the pages in the life of the deceased, open because the life was cut short before the book was completed.

You didn't mention them, but there are drapes on either side of the stone. These represent the veil between the living and the dead. If you've ever heard the expression 'it was curtains for him' (meaning he died) the curtains are that veil that is being referred to.

The Northumbrian Magazine. Not everyone may agree with the article. 

2 hours ago, Canny lass said:

Eggy, you've marked a couple of items with red question marks. The object to the right is a bone (probably the lower end of a femur) and the one on the left is the handle of the gravedigger's spade. Both are momento mori reminding the viewer of what is to come to him and every other mortal being. The book represents the pages in the life of the deceased, open because the life was cut short before the book was completed.

You didn't mention them, but there are drapes on either side of the stone. These represent the veil between the living and the dead. If you've ever heard the expression 'it was curtains for him' (meaning he died) the curtains are that veil that is being referred to.

Thanks CL -  I knew it was probably a bone and the new the spade handle but I just couldn't find any web site with an explanation of what the items represented 😊