General view of the gravestone of James Wightone, shoemaker, 1725. Digital image of B 4172/2

Description General view of the gravestone of James Wightone, shoemaker, 1725. Digital image of B 4172/2

Date c. 1985

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

Catalogue Number SC 799296

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of B 4172/2

Scope and Content East face of the gravestone of James Wightone, Liff Old Parish Church and Churchyard, Dundee This shows the gravestone of a cordiner, or leather worker. The stone features a simple heart shape in its top section, surrounded by initials of the family members. The heart is a symbol of love, often placed between pairs of initials to symbolise a marriage. The main text is carved within a recessed panel, with the epitaph below. Further initials are carved into the margins of the stone. Scottish gravestones feature a wealth of imagery and symbolic devices which represent trade emblems, symbols of death and resurrection, and Biblical scenes. They offer a fascinating insight into how our ancestors saw themselves and how they wanted to be remembered, as well as providing a store of information for people interested in family or local history, and folk art. This gravestone commemorates James Wightone, who died in 1725. It is inscribed: 'HERE LYES JAMES/WIGHTONE ONCE/SHOEMAKER IN LIF/FE/WHO DYED THE/3 DAY OF NOVEMBER/1725 AND UAS AGED/ABOUT 53 YEARS'...'ON STONE ITS/NEEDLESS FOR TO/PRAISE OUR FRIE/NDS WHEN DEAD FOR/WHEN THEY RISE IT/SHALL APPEAR TO ALL THE/EARTH WHAT LIFE THEY/LIVED BEORE THEIR DEATH'. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/799296

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap