Edinburgh's 'forgotten' monuments set for new lease of life

The graveyards of the Scottish capital might not be the first thing to spring to mind when you think of Edinburgh. And you would not be alone (I don't either). Nevertheless, graveyards such as Greyfriars Kirkyard and Canongate Kirk in the city's Old Town contain a welter of gravestones commemorating the final resting place of a number of famous and 'ordinary' Scots.

The World Monuments Fund has taken the decision to put five city centre graveyards on its 'at risk list'. The New York based Fund was approached by Edinburgh City Council. The Times reports that "The council is legally required to maintain the green spaces in the burial grounds, but families are often responsible for individual tombs — a problem when 300 to 400-year-old monuments are involved."

The city council plans to form a Historic Graveyards Trust in partnership with the Edinburgh World Heritage Trust and campaigners, which will co-ordinate fund raising activities designed to pay for the upkeep of the cemeteries.

The five cemeteries are St Cuthberts Churchyard, the Carlton Old Burial Ground, New Calton and the aforementioned Greyfriars Kirkyard and Canongate Kirkyard.

Greyfriars Kirkyard is famous for two reasons. Firstly, it was the site for the signing of the Covenant in the 1638. The Covenant was a rejection of an attempt to enforce Scottish worshippers to conform to the governance and liturgy of the Archbishop of Canterbury, William Laud.

Greyfriars Kirkyard is now better known because of the remarkable loyalty of a Syke Terrier named Bobby. Bobby's owner, John Grey, a night watchman died of tuberculosis in February 1858. Bobby mounted a vigil at his master's unmarked grave.

For the remaining fourteen years of his life Bobby kept watch in Greyfriars Kirkyard. Bobby won the affection of many local people and his star has risen since his death. Visitors to Edinburgh can hear more about Greyfriars Bobby and Edinburgh Old Town with the Royal Mile & More audio walking tour.

Canongate Kirkyard is the final resting place of Agnes McLehose, Robert Burns' true love. To hear more about McLehose and Burns please click here.

Burns paid for the original gravestone for one of his contemporaries, Robert Fergusson, who died at the tender age of 24. This year marks the 250th anniversary of Burn's birth. The bronze statue of Fergusson (pictured top) was created by David Annand and was unveiled five years ago.

Adam Smith, the father of political economy and the author of An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations is also buried in Canongate Kirkyard.

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