Eric Gill memorial stones

Two weathered stone slabs mark the final resting place of Eric Gill, the controversial sculptor and typographer who created the BBC's iconic Gill Sans typeface. These simple memorial stones sit in the graveyard of Speen church, a quiet spot that most visitors to the area walk straight past without realising its significance.

Gill died in 1940 and his grave remains refreshingly unpretentious - just carved lettering on local stone, which feels entirely appropriate for someone who revolutionised British typography. The stones themselves are beautifully crafted, though you need to know what you're looking for to appreciate their importance.

This is one for design enthusiasts and anyone interested in 20th-century British culture rather than casual sightseers. Kids will be thoroughly bored within five minutes, but adults who appreciate good lettering and understand Gill's influence on everything from book covers to London's transport signage will find it worth the short detour from Evesham.

There's no charge to visit and the churchyard is accessible year-round, though parking can be tricky on the narrow lane. Allow twenty minutes at most - it's not the sort of place you linger. If you're staying at one of the nearby holiday parks like Bredon-Vale Caravan and Camping or Plum Tree Glamping, it makes a pleasant walk on a crisp morning, especially for anyone working in graphic design or typography.