View of gravestone of Alex Gray, 1750.

Description View of gravestone of Alex Gray, 1750.

Date 1991

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

Catalogue Number B 4391/13

Category Photographs and Off-line Digital Images

Copies SC 795064

Scope and Content Gravestone of Janet Gray, St Fergus's Church and Burial Ground, Glamis, Angus This stone features a sharply-pointed top with large winged soul, an emblem of the soul flying to Heaven after death. Its smiling face surmounts a pair of curving wings incised with feathers. Below the soul an upside-down shield features a 'swingletrees', the harness which goes over the neck of plough horses, and therefore the emblem of a farmer. The curious bottle-shaped vases on each side of the stone hold fan-shaped leaves, a symbol of rebirth. The winged soul represents a belief that that the spirit of the dead would rise to Heaven to be joined by the body on the Day of Judgement. The spirit was believed to leave the body soon after death, and in some homes windows would be opened to enable the soul to depart, and mirrors would be covered to prevent it becoming trapped or confused. This gravestone commemorates Janet Gray, who died in 1742. It is inscribed: 'Erected by Alexander Gray/tenant in Forty in memory/of his Daughter Janet/Gray who died January 7th/1742'. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

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