Ornate carvings in the highly decorated Lady Chapel. Saturday, 17 November 2007
Rosslyn Chapel, Midlothian
King Darius' Trial of Wisdom, in a Latin inscription on the architrave over the stairs leading down to the sacristy. Forte est vinu. Fortior est rex. Fortiores sunt mulieres: sup om vincit veritas. [Wine is strong. The king is stronger. Women are stronger still: but truth conquers all.]
Rosslyn Chapel, Midlothian
Lucifer, the Fallen Angel, a carving at the base of a statue niche in the Lady Chapel.Rosslyn Chapel, Midlothian
Carving at the base of a window in the south aisle, said to be of an angel holding the heart of Robert Bruce.Rosslyn Chapel, Midlothian
Rosslyn Chapel is rich in carvings of the Green Man. One of the finest is this one, in the Lady Chapel.Rosslyn Chapel, Midlothian
Eight dragons at the base of the Apprentice Pillar. The vines which wind around the pillar emerge from the dragons' mouths.
Lilliesleaf Kirkyard, Scottish Borders
Will finish Lilliesleaf with another storm-backed image of the kirkyard - magical! Lilliesleaf Kirkyard, Scottish Borders
A wall-mounted memorial on the inside wall of an aisle. Death's head and crossed bones - symbols of mortality can be seen below the inscription. A coat of arms above.Lilliesleaf Kirkyard, Scottish Borders
Possibly, from right to left - preacher in the centre with hand resting on the bible, a skeleton ('King of Terrors' depicting death) holding onto the preacher's stick. The skeleton in turn is holding an hourglass indicating the passing of time ('well known to all who watched it during the long sermons' - Betty Willsher). I wonder if the headstone carver was indicating the preacher's sermons were too long?!Lilliesleaf Kirkyard, Scottish Borders
A nicely proportioned classical headstone with some great carvings.Lilliesleaf Kirkyard, Scottish Borders
A very ancient figured gravestone - not dated but maybe 1600's.
Lilliesleaf Kirkyard, Scottish Borders
An ornate winged soul and a relief carving of of the departed.Friday, 16 November 2007
Lilliesleaf Kirk, Scottish Borders
The atmosphere was great, the sun was low, there were dark storm clouds behind we even had a rainbow to the left of the ivy clad burial aisle.Lilliesleaf Kirk, Scottish Borders
The kirk in a very low sun. The first kirk here was built in 1110 AD.Bowden Kirk, Scottish Borders
Another view of Bowden Kirk and kirkyard. There are a couple of fine tablestones in the foreground. You can see from the bare trees that autumn is almost over - it was cold but sunny!
Bowden Kirk, Scottish Borders
A beautiful stained glass window filling what was 'The Priest's Door'.
Bowden Kirk, Scottish Borders
The kirkyard has a number of stones showing beautifully carved figures - here is one.Bowden Kirk, Scottish Borders
An interesting kirkyard with masses of gravestones. Typical of an upland site, most headstones are covered in a wide range of lichens and mosses. The church has had a long history extending back 850 years with much subsequent rebuilding.Caddonfoot Kirkyard, Scottish Borders
A great modern headstone following a tradition of fine carving.
Sunday, 11 November 2007
Walston Kirk cemetery, Lanarkshire
Another stone in great condition with very long crossed bones and the gravediggers tools (symbols of mortality). At the top is a heart - a symbol of immortality. It is a symbol of the soul and so for Resurrection.
Walston Kirk cemetery
A very old discoid headstone dated 1661 but with a very unusual though crude carving of a skull or death's head.Walston Kirk, Lanarkshire
A plaque built into the wall is dated 1666. The year of the great Fire of London!
Wednesday, 7 November 2007
Restalrig Collegiate Church, St Margaret's Parish Church
Cowfeeder in one grave, Bishop in the next....Restalrig Collegiate Church, St Margaret's Parish Church
Erected to the Memory of John MillarCowfeeder in Brickfield near Leith
Who died on the 17th Feby 1811
Restalrig Collegiate Church, St Margaret's Parish Church
Two skulls and a heap of bones held loosely in folds of drapery.At the top is a sad looking 'Green Man'.
Restalrig Collegiate Church, St Margaret's Parish Church
A headstone with some good carvings. It looks like the Crown of Righteousness and a Cordiner's knife indicating a shoemaker. A winged soul on the top and a mostly buried Death's Head at the bottom.
Restalrig Collegiate Church
St Margaret's Parish Church and St. Triduana's Chapel. St. Triduana was a 4th century Pictish saint. Tuesday, 6 November 2007
North Leith, Edinburgh
An ornate and well preserved headstone with a number of inscriptions for people who died in 1747, 1760 and 1765.
North Leith, Edinburgh
Several mariners and shipwrights are buried in this cemetery. This stone has an interesting variation on the 'Green Man' and also shows tools of the trade.North Leith, Edinburgh
Situated on a small triangle of land adjacent to the river, this cemetery has some very interesting headstones. Most have been well blackened by pollution over the centuries however the carvings are often in very good condition. Saturday, 3 November 2007
Colinton Church gravemarker
This fairly recent and unusual gravemarker is for an Estonian.
Leonhard Männik
From Pärnu Estonia
Died 7th December 1927
Colinton Church graveyard
Mort safe. The deceased body would be held in this iron chest until it had decomposed enough to render it unsuitable for the body snatchers. It was then buried. Edinburgh was infamous for body snatchers, bodies were stolen for use in the medical schools. Colinton Churchyard, gravestone
Hark from the Tomb a Solemn Sound
Prepare Prepare it crys.
To drop your body in the dust.
Your Soul to mount the Skies.
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