airth castle cemetary.....

[LesleyB]

Hi Krissy & Lainey
The horns got me interested - the best explanation I have found so far is this:

The Glory of God or the Radiance - Depicted by clouds, sun, sunray, trumpets, and more simply by a sunburst.
From Betty Willsher's fascinating book, "Understanding Scottish Graveyards".

Maybe he was hoping to butter someone up by having three!

It could also refer to the Angels of the Resurrection, though I think the angels are usually shown with the trumpets, blowing them.

There may, however, be some other explanation. Apparently musicians often had instruments on their stones... though you wouldn't have though in this case that three would be shown...

Best wishes
Lesley

[laineywoo]

Hi Krissy and Lesley and Russell
The only thing I can think of, is next time I am in the Library, I can have a look at the OPRs, although I am not promising it will be quick or holding out much hope for more info. The OPRs for around here, seem to often only give parents names for births, and only the date for marriage proclomations which the couples names, although maybe Airth parish is slightly different from the Polmont ones which I normally search. Maybe be helpful if you could give me the dates and info as exact as you can to give me starting points.

In response to Lesley.....I still think maybe game keeper etc. From what I can tell, most stones with illustrations seem to relate to their occupations.......although I am sure Lesley is much better informed than this amateur! If it is Ok to quote from this book ???
"TRADES"
The inscriptions of the gravestones at Airth are sadly disappointing and uninformative. Most merely possess two sets of initials, husband and wife, and a date - mostly that upon which the lair was acquired. The reason for this is likely to lie in the use of the stones as paving. There simply was little point in placing the long inscription on them if it was going to be worn off. ".......it then goes on
" A look at the engraved symbols is more instructive.
Hammer and knife
Mallet, chisel, adze/axe, square, compass - carpenter
Bakers paddle & loaves - baker
Leather workers half moon knife - leather worker
Compass, hammer - wright
Caulking irons - shipwright
Hammer and wedges - quarrier
Scissors and tailors iron - tailor
Pick and wedge - quarrier"
Lainey

[LesleyB]

Hi Lainey
I'm just an interested amateur too - I was only looking up a book!

From what I can gather trades were often illustrated on stones as you have mentioned but it was quite common, in Scotland at least, for other images to be used, sometimes in conjunction with trade images - usually to do with mortality - skulls, skeletons, mort bells, winged souls, sands of time etc. that sort of thing.

According to Betty Wilsher's book ((Understanding Scottish Graveyards), games keepers are represented by "guns & powder falsk, fishing rods, dogs, birds". But that of course can only be based on those stones she has seen or knows of. I wonder if huntsman is more likely - but I'm just guessing here!

I've just not come across any mention of three horns in the limited amount of books I have on the subject & that was what got me interested. It may well be unique example, so well worth photographing! If you have a photo Krissy, any chance of uploading it to the gallery? I;d love to see it.

Best wishes
Lesley

[LesleyB]

Just had another thought - the stone in question is at Airth Castle, not at Airth parish church, so I wonder...so the three horns have anything to do with the coat of arms of whatever family are associated with Airth Castle?

More digging needed!

Best wihses
Lesley

[laineywoo]

Hi Lesley
I'm now tempted to go down there myself if I can persuade the hubby lol! Dont know how much of it is left, but a few years ago we were at a dance there, and one of hubbys pal fell off a wall and landed on what he thought was a grave............so could still be something lol
Will let you know if I do
Lainey
PS its not anything to do with the families of the castle that I can see. They all had coats of arms along with other illus, none of which look like horns to me!

[LesleyB]

Hi Lainey
See:
http://members.shaw.ca/mcinnes-hume%20/ ... otland.htm
which suggests there might be a few problems accessing it maybe...

Picture 5 is again of the church but a glimpse into the church yard where there are headstones. The last picture is again of the ruins of the cemetery. I was disappointed that there is no access allowed into the churchyard. It is on private property (the hotel) and no one is allowed access because the church itself is unstable. The only way to gain access into the castle itself is if you are a registered guest. (We were not - and it is a very expensive place to stay.)

Maybe a letter or phone call before you go migth be best - see if you can talk them round! (an take your hard hat! )

Best wishes
Lesley

[laineywoo]

Hi Lesely
Now I may just be shooting myself in the foot here! I seem to remember though, that there is a walkway which i think public are allowed access to, from the bottom of Letham, that you go past the churchyard......If you are not allowed it is news to me as I can honestly say, I have walked from there into Airth Safety grounds are the only way I think folk could be prevented from going into the cemetary, as I thought there was no law of tresspass in Scotland?..... or has my hubbie been telling me this to save us going the "long ways" whilst out walking!?
Apart from that, you can just walk into the hotel and order a meal or drink, and therefore whether registered or not, you are a guest anyway......
Maybe I have just been pushing my luck
Lainey

[LesleyB]

Hi Lainey
I'd just go for it then! You obviously know your way around - I think the person who wrote the report on the web site was a visitor to the area. Clearly they should have got in touch with you first for a bit of inside knowledge!

Best wishes
Lesley

[laineywoo]

I'll let you know if I get there Lesley........
Lainey

[LesleyB]

Please take a photo, Lainey!!!! I'd really like to see these horns!