View of gravestone for Donald Stewart dated 1919, in the churchyard of Old Blair, St Bride's Kirk.

Description View of gravestone for Donald Stewart dated 1919, in the churchyard of Old Blair, St Bride's Kirk.

Date 1986

Collection Papers of Betty Willsher, historian, St Andrews, Scotland

Catalogue Number A 34422

Category Photographs and Off-line Digital Images

Copies SC 1568401

Scope and Content Gravestone of Donald Stewart, Elsie Flora Macrae, and Patrick Stewart, St Bride's Kirk and Churchyard, Old Blair, Perth & Kinross This memorial takes the form of a rusticated cross carved from what appears to be white marble. The 'wooden' cross is wreathed in ivy, a symbol of friendship and marriage. Crevices in the rocky base are filled with ferns and lily of the valley, suggestive of an idyllic natural setting. On top of the inscribed panel sits a little dog, traditional emblem of loyalty, faithfulness and devotion. Although this monument dates from the early 20th century, its style is really that of the later 19th century. Rusticated monuments were supposed to represent an idealised view of country life. The phrase 'fell asleep' as a euphemism for death, is also a product of the more sentimental 19th century, and is in marked contrast to the emblems of mortality and grisly warning verses seen on 17th-and 18th-century monuments. This gravestone commemorates Donald Stewart, who died in 1914, Elsie Flora Macrae, who died 1919, and Patrick Stewart, who died in 1899. It is inscribed: 'In Fond Remembrance/of Donald Stewart born in Calvine/25th October 1838, died at Clachan of Struan 8th July 1914/his wife Elsie Flora Macrae who fell asleep 15th January 1919/their only son Patrick who died 15th October 1899 aged 16...' Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

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