Grefriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh

Question

I'm currently exploring the fascinating Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh, based on numerous sources but primarily Register of interments in the Greyfriars burying ground, Edinburgh, 1658-1700 and the 1893 map.
I have a few questions that my internet searching hasn't answered:

1) Where is the HERIOT WORK GATE AND THE CROSS?
2) Is there a PRE-1700 PLOT MAP that shows all of the graves?
3) MULTIPLE FAMILIES IN SAME LOCATION i.e. Kinneir and Jamieson in both Trotter and Jackson tombs. Does this mean that they were related or is there another reason for the burial location?

Thanks for any and all assistance!

Answer 1

Hi this is a beautiful kirkyard I have visited many times.

I am not certain where the Heriot Work Gate is however Heriot's School runs along one edge of the kirkyard so I would presume the Heriot Gate would be along this line.

If you visit https://greyfriarskirk.com/visit/kirkyard/ one of the images is a map of the churchyard you will see where George Heriots School is located although I havent seen a reference to a Cross.  There are other pictures on that link of the kirkyard that you can do a 360 virtual view of.

You can also access the Greyfriars Burial Survey on FindaGrave however I am not sure how complete this is https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/639769/greyfriars-kirkyard

Hope this helps you.

Comments

Thank you so much, Suzy! You're blessed to have been able to visit Greyfriars, and more than once! I had discovered the links you provided but it was good to go back and check again.

I'll email the Greyfriars Community to see if they can tell me where the Cross is/was and perhaps an exact location for the Heriot work gate.

I'm still wondering if tombs with those interred of multiple family surnames (e.g.Kinneir and Jamison in Trotter and Henderson tombs) always implies a family connection or if there may have been other reasons.

slainte'

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I live in Edinburgh and if you have anything specific you want looked at and/or photographed in Greyfriars Kirkyard do let me know and I'll see what I can do.

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Thanks so much, Colin, for your kind offer! I'll need to check my files and put a few things together, then get back to you.

Cheers!

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Hi Colin,
Pictures (or transcriptions) would be most welcome of the inscriptions on the following graves, if they remain. They may help me understand how my Kinneir and Jamieson ancestor are related to the main tomb families. In addition to my known connection to Kinneir and Jamieson in County Down, Northern Ireland, I also have DNA matches with all of the main family surnames. It would be super to put the pieces together. Note that the surname spellings may be a bit different on the stones.

Again, thank you for your generosity. I'm not sure what I can do for you to repay your kindness on this side of the pond, but please let me know if you think of anything.

Trotter Tomb
Helen Kinneir, wife of Henry Hay 1691
William Jamieson and his son
Jackson Tomb
Andrew Kinneir 1688
Elizabeth Kinneir 1695
Alexander Jamieson 1695
Tod Tomb
Alexander Kinnier, husband of Jean Allan 1700
Henderson Tomb
Catherine Kinneir, wife of Mr. John Irvine 1700

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Hi Beth

It will be fun to do and a pleasure just be in the kirkyard with so much history around.   I've never fully explored the kirkyard  although the Kirk is very familiar, as it is where the amateur orchestra I used to play with put on its concerts.  A wonderful venue!  I'm away from home till the end of August and so it will be the start of September before I can make the visit but I don't suppose the residents will be going anywhere in the meantime.  

It's not a graveyard where any of my ancestors are likely to be other than  if any of my Hamilton forebears from Lanarkshire were Covenanters and ended up being imprisoned and dying there after Bothwell Bridge.  

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Hi Colin,

I can just imagine how your orchestra sounded in the kirk! I'm looking forward to hearing from you in September after you've returned from your, what I hope is a fun, time away.

I'm distantly related to some Hamilton families in County Down - or so it seems. I've not explored the connection since I'm primarily working on my direct ancestors. But I do keep my eyes out for peripheral families and if I find a Hamilton connection to Lanarkshire, I'll be sure to be in touch.

Thanks again!