Looking from Pithy Mary, across the Valley to the kirkyard and kirk. Click picture for larger image.
The Kirkyard at Stirling contains more monuments of the sixteenth and seventeenth century than the whole of the rest of the town. The owners of many of the stones can be identified, their styles and symbolism are a fascinating study.
As the eighteenth century advanced, new fashions in stones emerged and change reached its zenith with the creation of the 'educational sculpture garden' of the Valley Cemetery in 1858. Here, too, the grave monuments continued to change as new technologies and tastes brought about radical changes in design. But gravestones yield pride of place to the statues, the Star Pyramid and the Valley Rock Fountain, all redolent of Victorian piety (and obscurity).
I have published two papers about the area in the past and now plan to bring them together in a more user-friendly format as a leaflet which will be available (all being well) in the kirk itself for next season as an introduction for visitors and locals alike.
And, for anyone who is paying attention to 'John's Tasks' - be not alarmed. The sheep counting continues....
As the eighteenth century advanced, new fashions in stones emerged and change reached its zenith with the creation of the 'educational sculpture garden' of the Valley Cemetery in 1858. Here, too, the grave monuments continued to change as new technologies and tastes brought about radical changes in design. But gravestones yield pride of place to the statues, the Star Pyramid and the Valley Rock Fountain, all redolent of Victorian piety (and obscurity).
I have published two papers about the area in the past and now plan to bring them together in a more user-friendly format as a leaflet which will be available (all being well) in the kirk itself for next season as an introduction for visitors and locals alike.
And, for anyone who is paying attention to 'John's Tasks' - be not alarmed. The sheep counting continues....
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