Gravestone depicting smiths at anvil, 1802.

Description Gravestone depicting smiths at anvil, 1802.

Date c. 1980

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

Catalogue Number SC 789854

Category On-line Digital Images

Scope and Content Gravestone of George Brown, Old Parish Church and Churchyard, Rhynd, Perth & Kinross This shows the main sculpted face of the stone, with its depiction of two blacksmiths at work. The smith (right) holds a sledge hammer, and his apprentice, the fore hammer. Above the scene is an elaborate crown, surrounded by foliage, indicating that the smith was a member of the Guild of Hammermen. The Guild of Hammermen was open to any craftsman who used a hammer on metal as part of their work. The Incorporation included such trades as armourers, glovers, pewterers, hookmakers, saddlers, coppersmiths, blacksmiths, goldsmiths, gunsmiths, girdlemakers, cutlers and watchmakers. Members of the guild were entitled to use the emblem of the royal crown on their gravestones, but some chose to join separate guilds and display the tools of their individual trade. This gravestone commemorates George Brown, who died in 1802. The stone includes a rare depiction of tradesmen at work. The old Parish Church at Rhynd was built in the 17th century, but has not been used since 1841, and is now a roofless shell. The site is said to have originally been a cell of the Priory of May. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

External Reference BWA/58/S

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/789854

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap