Coffin plate

Lead coffin plate from a child's coffin buried in the graveyard of St James Church, Pentonville Road. The plate is inscribed 'Miss Anna Frances Emma Le Fevre Died 24th May 1818 aged 9 years & 10 mons.' In the first half of the 19th century up to half of all funerals in London were of children under the age of ten. The poorest families could not afford to bury their children in coffins. Although child mortality was highest amongst London's poor, all children, particularly those between the ages of 7 and 10, were at risk of dying from diseases such as scarlet fever, and measles.