Publication Info
Publication Details
Acknowledgements
My thanks to the full “Graveyard Gang” for their efforts with some of the stones here. The outstanding feature of this churchyard is the “Round House” – which was the Mort House in the days of the grave robbers. Here the bodies were put on a circular platform, pushed away from the door and gradually made their way back to the front when they were removed and buried. They estimated that this took about six weeks, by which time the bodies were unfit for other use. From things I have read, I understand this is a unique feature in a Scottish Churchyard. Situated as it is, right in the centre of the village, I suppose they needed to make sure nothing untoward happened to their friends and neighbours. The key to the door of this structure can be borrowed from the public house, which stands on the corner of the square leading to the churchyard. Sheila M. Spiers
Comments
Udny Old Kirkyard, naming 1185 individuals between 1696 and 1982
