Cramond Kirk

An early start this morning for a few casts on the river. Nothing doing but a peaceful time with sightings of kingfisher, dipper, heron and numerous ducks. Heading home for breakfast I stopped off at Cramond Kirk to have a look around the graveyard to see what gravestones are on display.

The stone pictured here displays many of the features often seen on 17th and 18th century stones. Starting from the top you will see a heart with the initials of the husband and wife on either side - this signifying the love for each other. Then the year of death - 1742. I don't know what the initials either side of this mean - possible surviving kin? You then have the death head or skull which is a reminder that death comes to everybody and this is accompanied by the words Memento Mori 'Remember That You Must Die' and underneath crossed bones - usually femurs. The hourglasses on either side indicate the passing of time. Below this the sexton's tools of a spade and turf cutter; the latter has a triangular blade. Below this, the weapons of death; a scythe and dart. I am not sure what the bottom right symbol is, but it will be the tool of the trade of the deceased. Bottom centre is the wings of an angel. Surrounding the crossed bones is the ribbons of death which often have rope wrapped around them.

This symbolic nature of carved stones is often seen in Lowland Scotland and rarely elsewhere. Prior to the 17th century such work was virtually unknown.

Anyway, that's probably enough for one day. Have a good one everybody.