View of grave-stone. Digital image of LA 3769/1

Description View of grave-stone. Digital image of LA 3769/1

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

Catalogue Number SC 801177

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of LA 3769/1

Scope and Content Gravestone commemorating David Young, St Kentigern's Church, Hyndford Road, Lanark, South Lanarkshire Here, the emblems emphasise death and mortality. Grinning, the winged skull represents the swiftness of Death itself, poised to strike at will. Beneath, the skull and crossbones signifies death. These emblems were probably intended as much for the viewer as to symbolise the death of David Young. Their powerful message of death and mortality urges the viewer to consider their own mortality. Post-Reformation gravestones like as this are an important part of the nation's heritage as they document the lives of ordinary Scots who would otherwise leave little record of their existence. Through the gravestone's decorative carvings and inscriptions it is possible to learn more about the lives of these people, what they did for a living and, in some cases, the clothes they wore and what they looked like. This gravestone commemorates David Young, a portioner or small-holder. The date of his death is unknown. The inscription reads: 'The Burial Place/of David Young Portioner/in Cadzow...'. A portioner was a smaller landowner, often holding land which was once part of a larger estate. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/801177

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap