Exploring New Calton Burial Ground - One of Edinburgh's most Atmospheric Cemeteries
This is No.10 in my top 100 things to see & do in Edinburgh. Really hope you enjoy it. If you'd like to tour this amazing cemetery with me, you can book a tour with me on Viator here - https://www.viator.com/tours/Edinburg...
Opened in 1817, this Victorian burial ground was quickly nicknamed 'tombs with a view' and you only have to visit to see why. The views over to the Scottish Parliament, Holyrood Palace and Arthur's Seat are superb.
In its day it would have been beautifully landscaped. The watchtower was built for a rather grisly reason - to guard against body snatchers, or 'resurrectionists' as they were often called. In the 1800's there was a very real fear that a loved one's body could be dug up and sold to the university's anatomical school. The schools needed hundreds ever year and the only one's they were legally allowed to obtain were of executed criminals, which only averaged around 55 a year. All kinds of deterrents were used, including extra deep graves, chaining bodies to coffins and placing great iron cages called 'mortsafes' over the grave.
It's thought that a family of up to ten people at one time lived in the watchtower - it must have been a very spooky place to live! Also check out the magnificent Burns Monument, in honour of national poet, Robert Burns, close by on Regent Road. Holyrood Palace and the Scottish Parliament are also close by.
If you'd like to see my other tour of Edinburgh, please visit my website - https://www.adventuresinscotland.uk
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