A Dying Fascination, Part 3

In the two previous entries to A Dying Fascination I outlined some of the art found in graveyards mostly in Scotland (although some from England)--the interplay of light and vegetation upon the stones and carvings symbolizing mortality and immortality.  One final category of the carvers’ art includes the symbols we find on grave stones relating to trades or occupations.  Many stones have carved items that we would recognize as “tools of the trade.”  Because tradesmen took pride in their work, an attribute not often seen in today’s job market, it is natural for them to want symbols of their trade to have a prominent place on their monuments.  Once you understand what to look for, the images of trade are almost as common in the kirkyards as the images relating to mortality and immortality.  We’ve found symbols of several different trades:

The hammer may relate to either a Wright (woodworker) or a Cooper, but the other tools in this example in the Muthill Old Church identifies it as definitely relating to woodworking.

The Weaver or Waulkmiller’s symbols are very noticeable (the loom), such as this one in the graveyard of the Meigle Parish Church, Perthshire.

Shears and irons are the tools of the Tailor (also Meigle).  

Peels and scuffle, a long-handled tool with a cloth on the end to clean out the oven and the wheat bale, help to identify a Baker’s grave at the Church of the Holy Rude in Stirling.

Many stones identify the interred as a Farmer as in these examples from Muthill and St Madeos.

The Mason is easily identified by the compass and square, the recognizable symbol of the Freemasons, on this grave slab at St Peter’s Kirk near Duffus.

Merchants are often represented by items such as pen and book, compass, particular items that were their trade, and most commonly by a ‘4’ sign (sometimes in the reverse position). These examples are from Church of the Holy Rude in Stirling and Muthill Old Church.

Military (soldiers and sailors) are identified by special carvings, such as the carving of a ship for a sailor (Dull Church)

or the regalia of the soldier, as detailed in this carving in the St Andrews Cathedral cemetery. 

Though the carving may not be very artistic, the War Memorials often seen in villages or, in the case of Nethy Bridge on its golf course (Abernethy GC), are the ultimate symbol of departed’s occupation. 

Sometimes you can find very special Portrait Memorials recognizing a person’s trade.  Two such examples are the memorials to famous golfers Tom Morris (Young and Old) 

and the memorial of golfer and club-maker Allan Robertson, both found appropriately enough in the St Andrews Cathedral graveyard. 

By no means do these three blog entries exhaust the exploration of art to be found in Scottish and English church or kirk graveyards or cemeteries.  For example, there are some wonderfully carved examples of Heraldic Devices, such as this one example from the Orphir Round Church cemetery (Orkney). 

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Next time you are traveling, whether in the UK, Europe or even in the States, take a look at the older cemeteries.  You might just find an interesting art exhibit.

One final image.  Fall in the graveyard (Mortlach Church).