The victim of the Black Death

John Livingston was a botanist and lived in the mansion house of Greenhill in Morningside. He died of the Black Death in 1645 and this is his tomb. He lies buried just along the road from my office in an attractive walled off area.

His story is told on a nearby plaque.

In 2004 the property next door was bought by a couple who simply decided that the gravesite was on their land and proceeded to fence it off from the general public who had enjoyed it for years.

Not only did the bones of John Livingston rattle in his grave, so did the teeth of the local residents. Newspapers, politicians, and the great masses rose up in horror - and after a battle royal the land was reclaimed and now is open to be visited.

It is a tiny little haven on a summer's day.....