Headstone for William Gourlay, 1744.

Description Headstone for William Gourlay, 1744.

Date 1991

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

Catalogue Number SC 803838

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of B 4180/9

Scope and Content Gravestone commemorating William Gourlay, Churchyard & Gordon Tomb, Old Kirk, Anwoth, Dumfries & Galloway Depicted with rounded cheeks and crisply carved feathers, this winged figure represents the soul's ascent to Heaven, showing a belief that the soul would rise after death. The style of carving follows the local pattern, and may be the work of a particular mason whose work is known across Galloway, and can be seen in this churchyard in a memorial to the McNish children. The decoration around the winged soul could be interpreted as being a form of stylised foliage. While used as decoration, such a feature may have been used to express a range of ideas about death, mortality and the after-life. Flowers could symbolise the shortness of life, blooming and then withering away, or be associated with mourning. Alternatively, leaves and plants might symbolise regeneration, alluding to the way plants return to life after appearing dead throughout winter. Such a message could be interpreted as metaphor for the Resurrection and the immortality of the soul, where life continued after death. This gravestone commemorates William Gourlay, a tenant farmer, who died in 1744 aged 78, his wife Jean Brown, who died in 1751 aged 70, and Margaret Ramsay, who was the wife of their son, and died in 1761 aged 29 years. The inscription reads: 'Here lyes the corps of/William Gourlay in Craig Laggan/who died in 1744 aged 78/Also the corps of Jean Brown his spouse/who died January 16th 1751 aged 70/ Also the corps of Margaret Ramsay/spouse to Robert Gourlay their son/who died May 3rd 1761 aged 29 years'. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/803838

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap