Publication Info
Publication Details
Introduction
The earliest records of the Memorial Inscriptions at Ellon Kirkyard were made by Andrew Jervise and published in 1875 in his “Epitaphs and Inscriptions”. He appears to have visited the kirkyard on more than one occasion (presumably in the course of his annual visits as “Examiner of Registers” for Northeast Scotland) but, as ever, he recorded only a few inscriptions, mainly those of the “Great and the Good”. He did, however, see some inscriptions which have now disappeared, so his readings have been incorporated into this booklet where appropriate. More recently, a much more useful set of transcriptions was made, in an impressive solo effort, by George Smart, and this has been available for some time in the ANESFHS Library. Early in 2010, the decision was made to produce an accurate plan of Ellon Kirkyard, with a view to preparing the MIs for publication, and a small group braved the April chill and rain-squalls to carry out the survey. When a plan is produced in this way after the inscriptions have been recorded, there remains the complex task of reconciling the two. In 2009, the ANESFHS annual Graveyard Outing had made it possible to do this for Kintore and Kinellar, so for the 2010 Outing we went to Ellon. As the entire kirkyard was being re-visited, the opportunity was taken to record the exact, complete wording of the inscriptions, in place of the system of conventional abbreviations formerly used. Comparison of the two versions unsurprisingly revealed that some of the inscriptions read by George Smart had deteriorated further, and a few had vanished. At the same time, a small number of additional inscriptions were found, and in a few places some progress was made in deciphering details which had formerly resisted interpretation. The bulk of the text in this booklet is as recorded on the 2010 Graveyard Outing, but by kind permission of George Smart, some gaps have been filled in from his readings. Gavin Bell July 2010
Comments
Ellon Old Kirkyard, naming 1282 individuals between 1601 and 1986
