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Edinburgh, 31 East Preston Street, Newington Old Burial Ground, Watch Tower

Watch Tower (19th Century)

Site Name Edinburgh, 31 East Preston Street, Newington Old Burial Ground, Watch Tower

Classification Watch Tower (19th Century)

Alternative Name(s) Dalkeith Road

Canmore ID 275066

Site Number NT27SE 2626.01

NGR NT 26635 72391

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/275066

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
Canmore Disclaimer. © Copyright and database right 2024.

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Administrative Areas

  • Council Edinburgh, City Of
  • Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
  • Former Region Lothian
  • Former District City Of Edinburgh
  • Former County Midlothian

Archaeology Notes

NT27SE 2626.01 26635 72391

INVENTORY OF GRAVEYARD AND CEMETERY SITES IN SCOTLAND REFERENCE:

N.B. This reference applies collectively to NT27SE 2626.00 and NT27SE 2626.01

Address: Newington Old Burial Ground and Watch Tower, East Preston Street, Edinburgh

Postcode: EH16 5BS

Status: Closed for burials but maintained

Size: 0.91 hectares, 2.25 acres

Polygon: No

TOIDs:

Number of gravestones: Not known

Earliest gravestone: Not known

Most recent gravestone: Not Known

Description: Early municipal burial ground opened 4 December 1820, with watch tower and iron railing mortsafe enclosure.

Data Sources: OS MasterMap checked 15 September 2005; Bereavement Services Portal checked 15 September 2005

Architecture Notes (22 March 2022)

Newington Old Burial Ground Watchtower was recorded as part of the Threatened Buildings Survey. The burial ground was opened on 4th December 1820 as an extension to the Buccleuch Burial Ground. The watch tower was a necessary precaution against the resurrectionists or body snatchers who were active at this time. The watchtower is very similar, if one storey shorter, to the one of a similar date at the Calton New Burial Ground, Regent Road, Edinburgh.

Site Management (21 August 2020)

2-stage, circular-plan, corbelled and castellated watchtower with external staircase set in re-entrant angle of boundary walls; doorway at ground; 2 single windows and further doorway at 1st floor.

Opened on 4 December 1820 as an extension to Buccleuch burial ground which had become overcrowded. The high walls and watchtower (which housed an armed guard) were considered essential precautions against the resurrectionists. Notable internments; many leading Edinburgh clergymen and professionals along with Jean Lorimer ('Chloris'), subject of several of Burns' songs. (Historic Environment Scotland List Entry)

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