The Grave That Spoke Back I was eight years old the first time a grave spoke to me. It was 1985, and the school trip had a very clear purpose. We were visiting Lancaster Castle and Lancaster Prioryas part of our project on the Pendle witches. Thick stone walls, authority, history presented as something solid and instructional. The sort of day meant to make the past feel important. But history had competition. Because during the visit, within the priory itself, I also got married. My school boyfr