Nestled in the shadows of Edinburgh Castle, St Cuthbert’s Graveyard might easily get overlooked, but if you like headstone symbolism (particularly skulls and crossbones) this graveyard is one you have to visit!

St Cuthbert’s is one of the oldest sites of worship in the whole of Edinburgh and is a place of peace in the heart of the busy city. The extensive churchyard is fascinating to wander around hosting some of the most interesting stones I’ve ever seen. Make your way to the south corner of the kirkyard, to discover many crumbling mausoleums, weathered slabs and ‘memento mori’ carvings in every direction you look. One stone that particularly caught my eye was attributed to David Grey and included a winged angel paired with skulls, hourglasses and scythes in a beautiful design.

If you look towards the western side of the burial ground, you will see the sandstone watchtower which was erected in the 1800’s, to try and keep grave robbers at bay. During this era, body snatching was rife due to a decrease in executions taking place and an increase in students wanting to learn about medical science and therefore needing cadavers to dissect. The demands were so high for bodies, universities would pay handsomely, making grave robbing seem somewhat appealing! Body snatchers would lurk around certain graveyards waiting until nightfall to dig up freshly buried corpses, to steal the body before selling it on to medical professionals. Two of the most well know names from this time were Burke and Hare, individuals who started out body snatching, before that practise became more difficult with the installation of watchtowers and patrols. Undeterred, they then decided to go on a murder spree taking the lives of 16 innocent people, who all suspiciously ended up appearing in the anatomy lectures of Doctor Robert Knox, who worked as a professor at the University of Edinburgh. 

Tip: Look out for George Meikle Kemp’s grave, who was the self-taught architect who designed the beautiful gothic treasure that is the Scott Monument.