The Old Town Cemeteries, Stirling

The Old Town Cemeteries, Stirling

This cemetery comprises a 19th-century extension of the kirkyard of the Holy Rude Kirk, extending north to the Castle esplanade and bounded approximately to the west by the Back Walk and to the east by Castle Wynd (excluding Valley Lodge, lodge and garage). Iron boundary railings and gates mark the eastern and western edges, with a further 20th-century extension to the northwest. A distinctive feature is that the cemetery is laced with instructive Biblical texts and statues of 'heroes' of Scottish Presbyterianism.

The cemetery was built in three stages.

Valley Cemetery and Mar's Wark Garden, 1857–1858

This section was laid out on land once used as a horse fair and occupied by houses, barns and the gardens of Mar's Wark (a monument in state care, listed separately). The cemetery was designed by Peddie and Kinnear, largely at the instigation of William Drummond. The original entrance gates by Peddie and Kinnear stand to the north, with replacement entrance gates to the south beside Holy Rude on Castle Wynd. A statue of James Guthrie overlooks the south entrance pathway.

Within the Mar's Wark section stand several monuments. An unusual iron headstone encasement was made by Sun Foundry. A statue of Ebenezer Erskine is positioned here, as is the Martyrs' Monument, which comprises a white marble statue of two young women carved by Handyside Ritchie in 1858–1859, seated below a protective angel (purchased from Rome) on a raised plinth. The monument was encased in 1867 by a decorative cast iron and glazed structure with cupola, designed by George Smith & Co Ltd, Sun Foundry, Glasgow. Most of the glass is now lost (as of 2003), though some blue coloured glass remains within the cupola. The monument refers to Margaret Wilson (aged 18) and Margaret McLachlan (aged 75), said to have died in the Solway in the 1860s after refusing to disown allegiance to the Scottish Covenant, and depicts the younger woman and her 'like-minded sister Agnes'. The monument is carved with references to Biblical texts.

The Valley Cemetery section lies to the west of Mar's Wark, featuring a central outcrop of rock upon which stand three statues: John Knox facing Ladies' Rock, flanked by Andrew Melville to the east facing Holy Rude, and Alexander Henderson to the west. Below Knox stands the Valley Rock Fountain, a marble fountain with shell basin carved with Biblical references. Contemporary stone gravestones surround this area, with the more expensive lairs positioned adjacent to the Valley Rock. A number of intact cast iron grave markers from the Etna Foundry, which were cheaper at the time, also survive. Below Ladies' Rock and facing westward stands the statue of John Renwick.

Drummond Pleasure Ground, 1862–1863

Separated from Valley Cemetery by a driveway, the Drummond Pleasure Ground was designed as a setting for the Star Pyramid, a massive sandstone ashlar pyramid standing on a stone stepped base upon a shaped grassy mound and dominating the area. Marble Bibles rest on the base of each face of the pyramid, which is also carved with references to Biblical texts. The pyramid is enclosed by wrought iron railings, with stone steps to the south flanked by two stone globes (once surmounted by bronze eagles). A Bible and Confession of Faith were sealed into an inner chamber within the pyramid.

The Pithy Mary pond lies to the west of the Star Pyramid and is spanned by a bridge of wrought and cast iron work, including later repair work. A grassed slope extends beyond to the west with lawn and deliberately placed rocks. No gravestones lie within Drummond Pleasure Ground except for William Drummond's sarcophagus to the northwest of the pyramid, fashioned from polished grey granite and inscribed 'Born 14 February 1793 Died 25th November 1888' on its stepped base.

Ladies' Rock

A natural outcrop of rock to the south of the cemetery, Ladies' Rock provides vantage points over the cemetery and across the Forth Valley. The area was historically used for jousting events, which spectators could view from this position.

Snowdon Cemetery, 1923

This section was created on the site of former Snowdon House, built for Allan Johnstone, architect of the former Erskine Marykirk Church (1826). The original boundary walls of Snowdon House survive to the south and west. Ashlar gatepiers and remains of a former lodge stand at the southeast entrance of the cemetery. Many gravestones date from the 1940s and 1950s and are fashioned from granite. A raised central section with railings defines the centre of this section.