View of Gordon Monumnet from South East. Digital image of C 14907

Description View of Gordon Monumnet from South East. Digital image of C 14907

Date 26/5/1993

Catalogue Number SC 803826

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of C 14907

Scope and Content Tomb commemorating the Gordon family, Churchyard & Gordon Tomb, Old Kirk, Anwoth, Dumfries & Galloway Built in the early 17th century, the tomb is monumental in its scale, reflecting the social status and aspirations of the Gordon family. Their arms are carved on the circular panel on top of the monument which is supported by large S-shaped scrolls, while the ends of the monument have miniature gables and ball finials. This view shows the east side of the monument, and the inscription to Margaret Maclellan, while the south face is decorated with a skull and cross bones (surmounted by a legend reading: MEMENTO MORI), hourglass and open book. The skull, bones and hourglass are all emblems of death and mortality. Yet the open book is a metaphor bearing some hope, for it represents the Bible, and the Word of God, alluding to the Salvation that awaits those who adhere to its teachings. The west face also shows three coats arms with the initials 'W G' and 'M M' (for William Gordon and Marion Mure), 'I G' and 'M M C' (for John Gordon and Margaret Maclellan) and 'I G' and 'C M C' (for John Gordon and Christian Macadam). Post-Reformation gravestones like this are an important part of the nation's heritage, documenting the lives of ordinary Scots who would otherwise leave little record of their existence. Through the decorative carvings and inscriptions it is possible to learn more about the lives of these people, what they did for a living and even the clothes they wore and what they looked like. This magnificent tomb commemorates Maron Mure, who died in 1612, Margaret Maclellan, who died in the 1620s aged 31, and Christen Macadam, Lady Cardyne, who died in 1628 aged 33. The tomb has three inscription panels. A panel on the north reads: 'WALKING WITH GOD IN PVRITIE OF LIFE/IN CHRIST I DIED AND ENDIT AL MY STRYFE/FOR IN MY SAVLE CHRIST HEIR DID DWEL BY GRACE/NOW DWELIS MY SAVLE IN HIS FACE/THAIRFOIR MY BODIE SAL NOT HEIR REMAINE/BOT TO FVL GLORIE SAL SVRLIE RYSE AGAINE/MARIVNE MVRE GOOD WIFE OF/CVLLINDACH DEPAIRTED THIS LIFE/ANNO 1612'. A panel on the east reads: 'DVMBE SENLES STATVE OF SOME PAINTED STONES/WHAT MEANES THY BOAST THEY CAPTIVE IS BOT CLAY/THOW GAINES NOTHING BOT SOME FEW LIFLES BONES/HIR CHOYSEST PAIRT HIR SOVLE TRIVMPHIS FOR AY/THEN GAZENG FREINDIS DO NOT HIR DEATH DEPLORE/ZOW LOSE A WHILE SCHE GAINES FOR EWERMORE/MARGRAT MAKCLELLANE GOOD WIFE OF ARDWELL DEPAIRTED/THIS LIFE 2 APPRILE 162- 'TATIS SVA 31'. The panel on the west reads: 'ZE GAZERS ON THIS TROPHEE OF A TOMB/SEND OVT ONE GRONE FOR WANT OF HIR WHOIS LYFE/TWYSE BORNE ON EARTH AND NOW IS IN EARTHIS WOMBE/LIVED LONG A VIRGINE NOW A SPOTLESS WIFE/CHVRCH KEEPIS HIR GODLIE LIFE THIS TOMBE HIR CORPS/AND EARTH HIR FAMOVS NAME/WHO THEN DOES LOSE HIR HVSBAND NO SINCE HEAVEN/HIR SAVLE DOES GAINE CHRISTEN MAKCADDAM LADY/CARDYNES DEPAIRTED 16 JVNY 1628 'TATIS SVAE 33'. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/803826

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap