Left to right: (a) A child kneels on the monument identified as belonging to the Telfer family. It seems similar to one described in an early guide to the cemetery, of a child kneeling prayer over the grave of a five-year-old boy (see Justyne 46). The child's innocence and devoutness marks him out as already angelic, and guarantees his reception into heaven. (b) and (c) An angel on the grave of Amy Leger, who died in 1902. (d) An angel for the Swain family: John Swain died in 1898, at the age of 69. includes the alleged offences of named individuals unless it is considered to be already common public knowledge Towards the end of the song, there is an allusion to the passage of time and growing old together. The imagery of silver-grey hair and unbraiding with love like a soft silver chain implies the narrator's desire for a lasting and deep connection. All photographs by Robert Freidus, who also provided names and dates. Text and formatting by Jacqueline Banerjee. Photographs reproduced here by kind permission of Highgate Cemetery. Related Material

Stone, Mrs. God's Acre: Or Historical Notices Relating to Churchyards. London: John W. Parker & Son, 1858. Internet Archive. Web. 19 August 2013. Three views of the sleeping angel on the grave of Mary Nichols. The inscription reads: “In Ever Loving Memory of Mary, the darling wife of Arthur Nichols and fondly loved mother of their only son Harold who fell asleep 7th May 1909. Also of Dennis Arthur Charles son of Harold and Winifred who died 28th April 1916 aged 18 months.” Jeane Trend-Hill explains that Mary's husband was a bank manager, so he could afford this kind of splendid and unusual monument. In this case the implication seems to be that the deceased is herself a sleeping angel.In 1813, fellow Quakers encouraged her to visit Newgate Prison, infamous for appalling conditions. She found it overcrowded with no separation of men from women, leaving women at risk of rape. Many had not even been to trial. Many would be shipped to Australia in vessels Ms Fry described as no better than slave ships, some dying on the way. Disease was rife; hanging common, even for trivial offences; the system foul. She determined to see change. In 1817 she helped found the ‘Association for Reformation of the Female Prisoners in Newgate’. She persuaded senior politicians to spend nights in Newgate to experience the horrors, and one year later became the first woman ever to give evidence to a Parliamentary Select Committee, a century before women got the vote. Her campaigns touched the nation’s heart. Mary Nichols proved to be rather elusive as it was a very common name in the UK when she died in 1909 and transcribing the records often went awry, she could have been entered as Nichol or Nicholls in which case I’d probably never find her. After looking through 526 death, marriage and census records, I narrowed it down to four possible’s and sent for one death certificate which was hopefully the right Mary Nichols and will contain more information. Inside Time reserve the right to republish comments in its newspaper or in any of its other publications, however, in these cases, comments will be anonymised. Stevie performed “Sleeping Angel” during the acoustic set (“After the Glitter Fades,”“Garbo,”“Rose Garden,”“Sleeping Angel”) of the 1998 Enchanted Tour, the only time the song has been performed in concert. Alternate Version Throughout the song, the narrator expresses their attempts to believe in the other person while also highlighting their own growth and learning process within the relationship. The reference to a "two-part personality" - the flower and the vine - may symbolize the duality of their own nature or the contrasting characteristics of both individuals involved.

In 2017, Rhino Records issued Bella Donna, including an “Alternate Version” of “Sleeping Angel” on Disc 2 of the 3CD expanded edition. Lyrics In modern days, also, has it not been at the shrine of death that the highest efforts of the Michael Angelos, the Canovas, the Thorwaldsens, and the Chantreys, have been elicited and exhibited? The tomb has, in fact, been the great chronicler of taste throughout the world." [John Claudius Loudon 13]

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The chorus "Take me sleeping angel, catch me when you can" suggests a longing for the other person's affection and emotional support. The line "real love affairs are heavy spells for a woman and a man" implies that genuine love can be intense and deeply transformative.

In 1823, the Gaols Act was passed. It was limited, but did require women be segregated. She pressed for more, holding meetings with Princess, later Queen, Victoria who endorsed and funded her work. In 1835 the Prisons Act was approved, introducing central control of prison policy and the appointment of Prison Inspectors. New prisons were designed with single cells.If you drive around the North Circular Road and turn towards Barking in east London, before reaching the town centre you pass the magnificent Gurdwara Singh Sabha Sikh Temple. Two hundred yards from there, down narrow Whiting Avenue, is Quaker Burial Ground Gardens. This beautiful open space is lush and green. Wild flowers thrive. In Ever Loving Memory of Mary, the darling wife of Arthur Nichols and fondly loved mother of their only son Harold who fell asleep 7th May 1909. Also of Dennis Arthur Charles son of Harold and Winifred who died 28th April 1916 aged 18 months”. In 1780, Elizabeth Gurney had been born into a Norwich banking family. She lost her mother when only 12, and helped bring up her siblings. Her brother, John, became a well-known philanthropist, sister Louisa Gurney Hoare a pioneering education advocate. When she reached 20, Elizabeth married banker Joseph Fry. They and their 11 children lived in East Ham and later moved to West Ham; 44 years an east Londoner. The story goes that the angel was covered in ivy for many years and discovered by a photographer. The ivy was removed and she was on display for a while but now she is usually covered with planks of wood as the cemetery management don't want people to know she is there in case of vandalism and questions about her came to an abrupt end. Hmmmm....I love getting to the bottom of a good mystery!