Graveyard. Headstone for Sarah Elder.
SC 803780
Description Graveyard. Headstone for Sarah Elder.
Date 1985
Collection Papers of Betty Willsher, historian, St Andrews, Scotland
Catalogue Number SC 803780
Category On-line Digital Images
Copy of A 7323
Scope and Content Gravestone commemorating Sarah Elder, Tongland Parish Church, Dumfries & Galloway Here, a winged figure occupying the upper part of the stone represents Sarah Elder's soul ascending to Heaven, and is shown with an unusually curly hairstyle. Unfortunately there has been some damage to the face, making it harder to compare the style of carving to others in the area. On either side of the stone are what appear to be pillars of an unusual design, while between them is an inscription panel, with a leaf-motif border. While plants and flowers were used as decoration, these may have been used to express a range of ideas about death, mortality and the afterlife. Flowers could symbolise the shortness of life, blooming and then withering away, or be associated with mourning. Alternatively, plants might symbolise regeneration, returning to life after appearing dead throughout winter and could be interpreted as an allegory for the Resurrection or the soul's ascent to Heaven, where life was believed to continue after death. This gravestone commemorates Sarah Elder, who died in 1756 aged 76. The inscription reads: 'Here lyeth/Mrs Sarah Elder relict of/Josias Gordon of Ch [...] who/died January [...] 1756 aged 76/years'. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.
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File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap
Attribution: © HES (Betty Willsher Collection)
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