Greyfriars Churchyard, Covenanters Tomb

Category

Museums & Galleries Item

Item no

11591

Title

Greyfriars Churchyard, Covenanters Tomb

Description

A double image of the Covenanters Memorial in Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh. Two columns border the text of the Martyrs' Monument, and the carving is topped with a triangular pediment. Behind is the façade of a tenement building.

Artist / maker

Begbie, Thomas

Date

1887

Size

8.3 x 17.1 cm

Type

Glass negative

Location

City Art Centre

Copyright

The Cavaye Collection of Thomas Begbie Prints ; The City of Edinburgh Council Museums & Galleries

The Covenanters Memorial or Martyr's Monument was erected in 1706. It commemorates the roughly 18,000 Covenanters who were "one way or other murdered and destroyed" for their political and religious allegiance. Many of these men were imprisoned in Greyfriars Kirkyard before being executed in the Grassmarket.

Greyfriars Kirkyard, or Graveyard, is the burial ground of Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh. It houses the graves of many notable historical figures including the poet Allan Ramsay, the geologist James Hutton and the architect William Adam. In 1679 several hundred Covenanters were imprisoned in the Kirkyard awaiting trial.

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Related subjects

Architecture > Monuments > Memorial monuments

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Religion > Religious facilities > Graveyards

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