Greyfriars Burial Ground
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Greyfriars Burial Ground is an historic cemetery in
Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...
, Scotland, dating to 1580. It is now Category A
listed Listed may refer to: * Listed, Bornholm, a fishing village on the Danish island of Bornholm * Listed (MMM program), a television show on MuchMoreMusic * Endangered species in biology * Listed building, in architecture, designation of a historicall ...
. It occupies the former location of the
Greyfriars Monastery Christ Church Greyfriars, also known as Christ Church Newgate Street, was a church in Newgate Street, opposite St Paul's Cathedral in the City of London. Established as a monastic church in the thirteenth century, it became a parish church af ...
, founded by Laurence Oliphant, 1st Lord Oliphant, in 1496 and destroyed in 1559 at the start of the
Scottish Reformation The Scottish Reformation was the process by which Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland broke with the Pope, Papacy and developed a predominantly Calvinist national Church of Scotland, Kirk (church), which was strongly Presbyterianism, Presbyterian in ...
.''The Tourist's Hand-book to Perth and Neighbourhood'' (1849), p. 26 Its collection of gravestones is considered one of the best in Scotland. As per documentation dating to 1911, "no burial is permitted of the body of a person who at the time of death resided out of the old parish, excepting that of a widower or widow, son or daughter who have never been married." A superintendent was in attendance every morning between 10 and 11 AM, then between 11 AM and 1 PM at
Wellshill Cemetery Wellshill Cemetery is a 19th-century cemetery in the Scottish city of Perth, Perth and Kinross. Located on Feus Road, the cemetery is still operational and is under the control of Perth and Kinross Council. In general the grounds are well-landsc ...
.''Leslie's directory for Perth and Kinross'' (1911), p. 18
/ref> The cemetery closed to burials in 1978. The cemetery is located at the eastern end of Canal Street, near its junction with
Tay Street Tay Street is a major thoroughfare, part of the A989, in the Scottish city of Perth, Perth and Kinross. Planned in 1806 and completed around 1885, it is named for the River Tay, Scotland's longest river, on the western banks of which it sits. ...
. It has been extended south on two occasions,Perth, Canal Street, Greyfriars Burial Ground
Canmore
and it now abuts the bridge carrying the Perth to Dundee section of the Scottish railway network. A tablet commemorating John Mylne, who "rebuilt the ancient bridge over the
River Tay The River Tay ( gd, Tatha, ; probably from the conjectured Brythonic ''Tausa'', possibly meaning 'silent one' or 'strong one' or, simply, 'flowing') is the longest river in Scotland and the seventh-longest in Great Britain. The Tay originates ...
," was erected by Robert Mylne in 1784. In 1997, when proposals were made to dismantle and rebuild the cemetery's eastern wall, two test pits were dug by the Scottish Urban Archaeological Trust (SUAT). One of the pits found what is believed to be the original monastery wall foundations. A "succession of wall foundations" hinted at several wall replacement and repair efforts undertaken during the monastery's lifespan, each raising the ground level.
Medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the Post-classical, post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with t ...
pottery was also discovered, likely associated with the soil of lower garden abutting the original monastery wall. The other pit demonstrated a lack of a progression of wall foundations, confirming that that area was inside the 1795 graveyard extension and outside the original monastery grounds. The second pit also showed signs of
infill In urban planning, infill, or in-fill, is the rededication of land in an urban environment, usually open-space, to new construction. Infill also applies, within an urban polity, to construction on any undeveloped land that is not on the urban mar ...
ing or levelling layers, possibly from when a
burn A burn is an injury to skin, or other tissues, caused by heat, cold, electricity, chemicals, friction, or ultraviolet radiation (like sunburn). Most burns are due to heat from hot liquids (called scalding), solids, or fire. Burns occur mainl ...
, which ran along the burial ground's southern wall, was covered with soil. In 2019, several headstones deemed a hazard to passersby were removed and restored."Hazardous headstones marked for removal at historic Perth churchyard"
– '' The Courier'', 4 June 2019


Notable interments

* Adam Anderson, physicist (1783–1846) * George Haliburton, bishop of Dunkeld (1616–1665) *
Andrew Heiton Andrew Heiton (3 April 1823 – 3 March 1894) was a Scottish architect.Andrew Heiton
- ...
(1823–1894), architect *
William Macdonald Mackenzie William Macdonald Mackenzie (20 July, 1797 – 25 February, 1856) was a Scottish architect, prominent in the first half of the 19th century.''Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland: A Graphic and Accurate Description of Every Place in Scotland''
Francis Hindes Groome Francis Hindes Groome (30 August 1851 – 24 January 1902), son of Robert Hindes Groome, Archdeacon of Suffolk, was a writer and foremost commentator of his time on the Romani people, their language, life, history, customs, beliefs, and lore. Li ...
(1901)
* John Mylne (c. 1585–1657), mason


See also

*
List of listed buildings in Perth, Scotland This is a list of listed buildings in the parish of Perth, Scotland. List :''All entries, addresses and coordinates are based on data froHistoric Scotland This data falls under thOpen Government Licence' ...
*
List of Category A listed buildings in Perth and Kinross This is a list of Category A listed buildings in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. In Scotland, the term listed building refers to a building or other structure officially designated as being of "special architectural or historic interest". Cate ...


Gallery

File:Greyfriars Burial Ground, Perth, Scotland (8924980989).jpg, A 2013 view, with the Church of St John the Baptist in the background File:Prof Adam Anderson's grave, Greyfriars Cemetery, Perth.JPG, 1846 grave of physicist Adam Anderson, architect of
Perth Water Works Perth Water Works (also known as Corporation Water Works)''Official Guide to Perth and Its Neighbourhood by the Tramway Car Routes'' – Perth Town Council (1907), p. 19 is an historic building in Perth, Scotland, Perth, Scotland, dating to 1832. ...
, located around south of his resting place


References


External links

{{commons Kirkyards in Scotland 1580 establishments in Scotland Category A listed buildings in Perth and Kinross Listed buildings in Perth, Scotland