This unique item was in danger of total loss. The Carter Iron foundry was based in Piercy End and the business frontage is still intact and carefully preserved. When two children belonging to Christopher Carter died in the 1850s, the foundry cast a beautiful iron headstone which stood for many years in the churchyard behind the church itself. There was originally a third panel, but sadly this has been lost and the details with it.
However, as the years passed by, the iron was broken and shards became buried in the soil, and a plate with names lost altogether. The Kirkbymoorside History Group realising that the now dangerously sharp and broken marker was in danger of being removed, they contacted relatives and obtained permission to have the marker relocated and restored. The headstone was sandblasted and repainted by volunteers and now stands in the grounds of the Ryedale Folk Museum, next to the town’s bier which was also rescued and restored.
The cast iron frontage to the Carter Foundry is intact and can still be seen today. The Carter family began their foundry career up in the North East before moving down to Kirkbymoorside and establishing not just the original Carter Foundry one but three in town– Ryedale, Cyclops and Kirk Forge.
