Edinburgh Guide
A Walking Tour of sites of Christian Interest
John
Knox
INTRODUCTION
This
guide to the
sites of Christian
interest in Edinburgh takes the form of a walking tour around
the city centre. The appendix at the back then gives details of
other sites outside the centre in the immediate surrounding area.
The tour begins at the statue of Thomas Guthrie in Princes Street,
opposite the end of Castle Street. This is a convenient place
to start if arriving by train, as this is just along Princes Street
from Waverley Station. Edinburgh is also served by an international
airport which is approximately 6 miles to the west of town. Buses
from the airport will arrive in Princes Street near this statue.
If arriving by car however, then it would be far better to start
the tour at Grange Cemetery (Point no. 20 on the tour), as this
is convenient for street parking and would avoid the excessive
parking charges in the immediate city centre.
1. THOMAS GUTHRIE
STATUE
Thomas Guthrie (1803-1873) was one of the leaders of the Free
Church in the 19th Century. 1843 was the year of the Great Disruption
when 200 ministers walked out of the Church of Scotland General
Assembly in protest over the subject of patronage - i.e. the idea
that the landowner chooses the minister for a parish rather than
letting the congregation have a say in the matter. The split was
really deeper though, being that between the Moderates (who stayed
in the Church of Scotland) and the Evangelicals (who came out).
Thomas Guthrie was one of the leading ministers who walked out,
becoming minister of Free St John's in Victoria Street. He was
also a social reformer, pioneering work on the ragged schools,
which provided free food and education for destitute children.
He received a DD from Edinburgh University in 1849 and was moderator
of the Free Church General Assembly in 1862.
Now walk
up Castle
Street to where
George Street intersects it. In the roundabout in the centre of
the road stands a statue to Thomas Chalmers.
2. THOMAS CHALMERS
STATUE
The name of Thomas Chalmers (1790-1847) is synonymous with
the Great Disruption. He was born in Anstruther in Fife and was
educated at St Andrews University, where he became Professor of
Moral Philosophy in 1823, after having had pastorates in Kilmany
(Fife) and the Tron, Glasgow. He then became Professor of Divinity
at Edinburgh in 1829. He himself was a staunch moderate whilst
he was minister of Kilmany, but he was converted and became a
leader of the Evangelicals, being one of the 200 ministers who
walked out of the Church of Scotland General Assembly in 1843.
He was the first Moderator of the subsequently formed Free Church
General Assembly.
At this
point a detour could be made to take in Dean Cemetery
(see Appendix), which is 3/4 mile to the west.
Head east along
George Street until
you reach St Andrews Church on your left hand side, just past
where Hanover Street intersects.
3. ST. ANDREWS
CHURCH
This is where the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
met in 1843 when the Disruption occurred. On 18th May 1843, 200
ministers walked out of the Assembly in protest. They were joined
by 274 other ministers outside and they all marched northwards
down Hanover Street, Queen Street and Dundas Street to a spot
just across the Water of Leith where now stands the Standard Life
Insurance building, but which then was the site of the Tanfield
Hall. Here they set up the first General Assembly of the Church
of Scotland - Free, and selected Thomas Chalmers as their first
moderator. This involved the exodus of approx. 38% of the entire
Church of Scotland, and was a major blow to it. You can retrace
their steps along here if you like, but there is nothing much
to see at the end.
Continue
eastwards
along George Street
to the end (St Andrews Square) and turn left. Head up North St
Davids Street and then turn right into Queen Street.
4. NATIONAL MUSEUM
OF ANTIQUITIES
& PORTRAIT GALLERY
Here is a place worth visiting on the general tourist trail.
Of Christian interest, there is in here a Covenanters flag. The
Covenanters were a godly group of people in the 17th Century and
they take their name from those who signed the National Covenant
in Greyfriars Churchyard in 1638 (No. 16). This was basically
a declaration against Charles I trying to impose the English prayer
book and other ceremonies on the Church of Scotland. The protest,
which came from the people at large, was quite successful in the
end, as Charles backed down and let Presbyterianism be re-established.
The Covenanters came to be known about especially after the Restoration
in 1660 when Charles II came to the throne, as he had all Covenanter
ministers ejected from their charges in 1662. As they started
to hold illegal meetings in the open air (conventicles) they were
persecuted to death. It is estimated that between 1660 and 1688,
20,000 Covenanters were killed in Scotland.
Head
north up
Dublin Street, east
along Albany Street and north again down Albany Lane to Barony
Street. The building on your left on the corner is a Glasite meeting
house.
5. GLASITE MEETING
HOUSE
Glasites are named after John Glas (1695-1773) who was an
Independent
pastor. He was born in the Church of Scotland manse in Auchtermuchty
in Perthshire and became the minister of Tealing near Dundee in
1719. However, he became an Independent by conviction, and started
an independent group in 1725. This drew the wrath of the Church
of Scotland and he was deposed in 1730. He consequently started
up several independent churches in Scotland along the lines of
Robert Sandeman, his son-in-law, who did so in England and the
United States. They were Calvinistic and exclusive with an intellectual
leaning. Only two congregations still exist in Britain, the one
here and one in London. As can be seen from the name plaque, the
building is shared with other groups.
Head east
along
Barony Street to the
end and turn right into Broughton Street. Continue south down
Leith Street then left down Calton Hill. Where Calton Hill meets
Waterloo Place is the Precentors Plaque.
6. PRECENTORS
PLAQUE
Here we see three portraits on the wall just by the steps up
to Calton Hill. These men, John Templeton, David Kennedy and John
Wilson were all precentors, i.e. they led the unaccompanied psalm
singing which characterises Presbyterian and Reformed worship.
Head
south along
Calton Road, which
goes underneath Waterloo Place and then under the railway. Turn
right under the railway bridge up New Street until Canongate is
reached, at which turn left (east).
7. MORAY HOUSE
This will be on your right hand side, i.e. the south side of
Canongate. This is where Oliver Cromwell lodged after his invasion
of Scotland. There was much harmony between the Scots Presbyterians
and the English Independents, so much so that they drew up the
Solemn League and Covenant in 1643 which was signed in St Margarets
Church, Westminster. This pledged the signatories to mutual recognition
and striving towards one church in the three countries of England,
Scotland and Ireland. However, after Oliver Cromwell chopped Charles
I's head off in 1648, the Scots were angry and immediately declared
Charles II as King of Scotland. (At this point Charles II told
them he would give them everything they wanted if they made him
king. When he did become king in 1660 he broke all his promises
and persecuted them mercilessly.) As a result Oliver Cromwell
invaded Scotland (and Ireland for that matter too) and kept both
countries under his thumb until his death in 1658.
8. HUNTLY HOUSE
MUSEUM
Huntly House, next door to Moray House (eastwards), is the
city museum. It opens at 10am and has free admission. It is very
interesting for one thing, namely it contains an original copy
of the National Covenant, signed in Greyfriars Churchyard in 1638.
It is situated on the first floor (up stairs and turn left). It
stands encased in glass next to a display of a typical room in
Covenanting times. Half of one side of it has the text of the
Covenant, and the remainder of that side and all of the reverse
side is covered with signatures, some signed in their own blood.
9. CANONGATE
TOLBOOTH
This is opposite Huntly House. This was where the Covenanters
were imprisoned before they were executed. Many famous Covenanters
were held here including James Guthrie, the first martyr in 1661.
They would then probably be executed at the Mercat Cross (No.
13) and their heads stuck on the Netherbow Port (No. 11) for show.
The Tolbooth is now a brass rubbing centre and a public house.
10. CANONGATE
KIRKYARD
This is situated next to the Tolbooth and east of it. Here
is the grave of Horatius Bonar (1808-1889). At least that is what
the sign outside says. I couldn't find it, but there is a family
of Bonars buried here, to the right near the entrance and facing
away from it. He could be buried there. He was a Free Church minister
and wrote many hymns (although the Free Church only sing psalms!).
The Edinburgh church which Dr. Bonar was a minister in was St.
Catherine-Argyll (No. 19).
Now head
west
along Canongate.
11. NETHERBOW PORT
The Netherbow Theatre and Cafe marks the spot where the
Netherbow
Port used to be. Here the heads of executed Covenanters were put
on spikes and displayed. James Guthrie (1614-1661) and Richard
Cameron (1648-1680) were two of the more famous Covenanters who
underwent this treatment. Brass plates in the roadway trace the
outline of the gate.
12. JOHN KNOX'S
HOUSE
No tour of Edinburgh would be complete without a mention of
John Knox (1514-1572), the great Reformer. He was born at Haddington,
East Lothian and was educated at St Andrews, probably under John
Major. After George Wishart's martyrdom in 1546, Knox received
a call to preach the gospel. He was sent to France as a galley
slave when St Andrews was captured in 1547. Upon release in 1549
he went to England until 1554, being preacher in Berwick. Upon
the accession of Mary Tudor in 1554, he fled to Europe. He became
minister to the English congregation in Frankfurt for a while,
then moved to pastor the English church in Geneva, where John
Calvin was minister of the French church. In 1559 he returned
to Scotland to lead the Reformation, which succeeded after the
death of Mary of Guise. He, with others, then drew up the Scots
Confession, which was accepted by Parliament in 1560. He was minister
of St Giles, Edinburgh (No. 14), from then on, until his death
in 1572. Whilst minister there, he is reputed to have lived in
this house, which is now a museum, and is situated next door to
the Netherbow.
Continue westwards
up the High Street.
13. MERCAT CROSS
This is situated on the left hand side (south side) just
before
St Giles Cathedral. This is where many Covenanters were executed
between 1660 and 1688.
14. ST. GILES
CATHEDRAL
This church was only a Cathedral as such when Presbyterianism
was not established, i.e. in the brief periods between 1637-39
and 1660-88. It was probably originally founded in 1130AD, but
a substantially new building was erected in 1467. Between 1560
and his death in 1572, John Knox was the minister here. The Church
of Scotland General Assembly, which meets across the High Street
in New College, always has a service here annually.
Items of interest:
(1) Statue of John Knox, faces away from you as you enter the
west door.
(2) Monument to the First Marquis of Argyll. He was a great
supporter of the Covenanters. In 1651 he placed the crown on the
head of Charles II as he was declared king, much to the annoyance
of Oliver Cromwell in England. Charles had promised to establish
Presbyterianism if the monarchy was restored. Ten years later
when it was restored, Charles went back on all his promises,
established
Episcopacy instead (rule by bishops) and chopped the Marquis of
Argyll's head off. The Marquis is buried at Kilmun, 3 miles north
of Dunoon.
(3) Here are the stones which marked the grave of John Knox
before they built a car park on it (see 7).
(4) In the floor here is a plaque to Jenny Geddes. She was
a local peasant woman who threw a stool at the Dean as he tried
to read from Archbishop Laud's new prayer book and impose it on
the Scottish people in 1637. This sparked off public unrest which
culminated in the signing of the National Covenant in Greyfriar's
Churchyard (No. 16) the next year, and the re-establishment of
Presbyterianism soon afterwards.
(5) This corner of the Cathedral (the Albany Aisle) was known
as Haddow's Hole. It was where many Covenanters were imprisoned
in 1666 after their defeat at the battle of Rullion Green, after
the unsuccessful Pentland Rising (see Appendix).
(6) Here is the grave of the First Marquis of Montrose
(1612-1660).
He signed the National Covenant in 1638, but changed sides as
the political scene suited him. He was hanged as a traitor in
1650, but after the Restoration in 1660 his dismembered body was
re-united and given a heroes burial. It is a sign of the times
that the tour guides of St Giles today show him as a hero, and
his grave is carefully kept with flowers, yet the Marquis of Argyll's
grave (2) is kept in a dingy condition in the dark!
(7) Around the back of the Cathedral in Parliament Square is
the car park for the law courts. Parking lot 23 is the spot where
John Knox was buried in 1572. The only thing that marks it now
is a small yellow square. The stone which used to mark it is in
the Cathedral (3).
Continue
along the
High Street westwards
and take the next left down George IV Bridge.
15. McCALL BARBOUR
BOOKSHOP
This is on your right at no. 28. It is on the first floor.
It is run by the Brethren.
Continue
southwards until you meet
the corner of Candlemaker's Row on your right. At this junction
is the entrance to Greyfriar's Churchyard.
16. GREYFRIAR'S
CHURCHYARD
It was here in the Churchyard of Greyfriars that the National
Covenant was signed in 1638.
Things of interest to see are:
(1) Grave of Alexander Henderson (1583-1646). He is known as
'The Architect of the Covenant' as he was responsible for drawing
up most of the National Covenant. He was ordained minister of
Leuchars in Fife against the wishes of the congregation. They
locked him out of the church on the day of the induction service
and he had to climb through the window in order to continue the
service. Not long afterwards he went secretly to hear the great
Evangelical minister of the day Robert Bruce (1554-1631), who
took as his text John 10:1 "He that entereth not by the door
into the sheepfold but climbeth up some other way, the same is
a thief and a robber". He was soundly converted after this
and championed the Evangelical cause ever since! He not only drew
up the National Covenant, but also the Solemn League and Covenant
in 1643. He was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church
of Scotland in the year of great reform, 1638, and was the leader
of the Scottish Commissioners at the Westminster Assembly of Divines,
which met in Westminster Abbey 1643-47. He became minister of
Greyfriars in 1638 and later of St Giles (No. 14).
(2) Grave of George Buchanan (1506-1592). He was more of a
writer than anything else. He studied the classics and was tutor
to Mary Queen of Scots. He supported the Reformation, and Mary
found him a greater enemy even than John Knox! He was an MP, Principal
of St Leonard's College, St Andrews and, unusually for someone
who was not a minister, he bacame Moderator of the General Assembly
of the Church of Scotland.
(3) Grave of Thomas McCrie (1797-1875). He was ordained a
minister
of the Original Secession church in 1820. This church was formed
by five ministers of the Church of Scotland in 1733 after they
were removed from office. Two of the leaders were Ralph and Ebenezer
Erskine. Thomas McCrie wrote a well known work 'The History of
the Scottish Church'. He was instrumental in bringing about the
union between the Original Secession Church and the relatively
newly formed Free Church in 1852. In 1856 he was Moderator of
the General Assembly of the Free Church.
(4) Inside the church itself is a small museum in a room in
the SW corner. Please be warned of the bias against the Regulative
Principle of worship in the museum display material. It is nauseating
when museums/history books etc. put their own 'spin' on events
rather than simply displaying facts, which is what they should
be doing. Here you may find:
(5) Also inside the church, the pulpit has an inscription on
it showing that here was where the National Covenant was signed
in 1638.
(6) After the battle of Bothwell Brig, near Hamilton, in 1679,
the heavily defeated Covenanters were rounded up and imprisoned
in the Covenanters prison here. It was open to the elements then
as it is today. 1200 of them were imprisoned here and then sentenced
to be transported to the plantations in the West Indies. They
sailed from Leith, but one ship carrying 200 of them, sank at
Deerness, off Orkney.
(7) Here stands the Martyr's Monument. This commemorates the
spot where many Covenanters were buried during the difficult times
between 1662 and 1688. They were regularly hanged in the Grassmarket
(No. 17), laid out in the Magdalen Chapel (No. 18) and buried
here.
Turn left
out of
Greyfriars and down
the hill of Candlemaker's Row into the Grassmarket.
17. GRASSMARKET
A large, flat, circular monument in the central aisle at the
near end of the Grassmarket marks the spot where many Covenanters
were executed.
Do not
stay in
this area long, it
is not very safe. Head east down Cowgate and find the Magdalen
Chapel on your right, just before the bridge.
18. MAGDALEN CHAPEL
This is situated at 41 Cowgate and is open Monday to Friday
9.30am to 4.30pm. This is now the Headquarters of the Scottish
Reformation Society. Between being executed at the Grassmarket
(No. 17) and being buried in Greyfriar's Churchyard (No. 16),
the bodies of the Covenanters were laid out here, part of the
table used for this purpose is still to be seen. The very first
General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1560 met here under
the leadership of John Knox. The stained glass windows are the
only intact pre-Reformation stained glass windows left in Scotland.
A portrait of James Begg (1808-1883) hangs on the wall. He was
the founder of the Scottish Reformation Society in 1850. He took
part in the Disruption of 1843 and was minister of Newington Free
Church, Edinburgh. He championed the cause for those against the
union of the Free Church and the United Presbyterian Church (descended
from the Secession Church of 1733). These were Voluntaries (i.e.
not adhering to the Establishment Principle) and used hymns and
other man-made items in public worship, hence Begg's opposition
to them.
Return up
Candlemaker's Row back to
the entrance to Greyfriars churchyard.
The next point of
interest on the
tour, Grange Cemetery, is 1/2 mile to the south of this point.
It has been included in the main tour as it is a very important
place to visit. If desired, however, this point can be missed
out and visited another time. (If you wish to miss this out, then
turn left along George VI Bridge and rejoin the walk at no. 21).
To reach the
cemetery, turn right along Forrest Road and continue
in a straight line all the way, crossing Lauriston Place and following
the footpath/cycle track across The Meadows. Continue straight
across Melville Drive and up Argyle Place and Chalmers Crescent
until Grange Road is reached.
19. CHURCH OF ST
CATHERINE-ARGYLL
This church, at the far end of Chalmers Crescent on the corner
with Grange Road, used to be known as the Thomas Chalmers Memorial
Church, and Horatius Bonar (1808-1889), the hymnwriter, was the
minister here just before his death. It was a Free Church of Scotland,
but in 1900 it went into union with the United Presbyterian Church
(to form the United Free Church) and then in 1929 most of this
body rejoined with the Church of Scotland, of which this church
is a member today. Bonar lived at 10 Palmerston Road, just around
the corner from here.
20. GRANGE CEMETERY
This is a very significant graveyard because of the high
proportion
of Scottish divines that are buried here. Most of them were connected
with the Free Church in the 19th Century and were very much involved
in the Disruption of 1843 when the Free Church was founded. The
cemetery is open Monday to Friday from 8am until 4.30pm.
Key to map:
(1) Hugh Miller (1802-1856). From Cromarty. Editor of 'The
Witness' newspaper and geologist. Fully supported the Disruption
in 1843. Committed suicide after developing a brain disease.
(2) Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847). One of the leaders of the
Free Church Disruption in 1843 as 38% of the ministers of the
Church of Scotland walked out to form the Free Church. He was
their first moderator.
(3) Patrick Fairbairn (1805-1874). Free Church leader and
writer
of 'Typology of Scripture' and 'The Interpretation of Prophecy'.
He became the Principal of the Glasgow Free Church College in
1857 and was Moderator of the Free Church Assembly in 1864.
(4) Alexander Duff (1806-1878). Missionary to India. 'Duff
College' in Calcutta became the largest missionary school in India.
At the time of the Disruption, almost all of the Church of Scotland
missionaries at the time sided with the Free Church. He was moderator
of the Free Church General Assembly in 1851.
(5) Robert Young (1822-1888). Literary missionary and
superintendant
of the Mission Press at Surat, India. He was a multi-linguist
and his most noteable work was his 'Analytical Concordance to
the Bible'.
(6) James Bannerman (1807-1868). He was one of the leaders
of the Free Church at the time of the Disruption. In 1849 he was
appointed Professor of Apologetics at New College, Edinburgh.
(7) William Cunningham (1805-1861). Another Free Church
divine.
He succeeded Thomas Chalmers as Principal of New College, Edinburgh
in 1847. In 1859 he became Moderator of the Free Church General
Assembly. He published many good books including 'The Reformers
and the Theology of the Reformation', 'Discussions on Church
Principles'
and 'Historical Theology'.
(8) Hugh Martin (1822-1885). Free Church minister of Free
Greyfriars,
Edinburgh. He was an associate of James Begg as a chief contributor
to 'The Watchword' magazine. His best known literary work is 'The
Atonement'.
(9) George Smeaton (1814-1889). Free Church minister who
became
Professor of New Testament Exegesis at New College, Edinburgh
in 1857. Best known for his two works 'The Doctrine of the Holy
Spirit' and 'The Doctrine of the Atonement'.
(10) Thomas Guthrie (1803-1873). Free Church leader at the
time of the Disruption. Minister of Free St John's, Edinburgh.
His statue stands in Princes Street (No. 1).
(11) Robert Flockhart (1778-1857). Converted in the army in
India, he became a well known street preacher in Edinburgh.
(12) James Buchanan (1804-1870). Minister of North Leith
Church
then later St Giles (No. 14), but he left during the Disruption
to become minister of St Stephens, Edinburgh. He succeeded Thomas
Chalmers as Professor of Systematic Theology at New College, Edinburgh
in 1847. His most well known works are 'The Office and Work of
the Holy Spirit' and 'The Doctrine of Justification'.
Now
return back to
Greyfriars, i.e.
Head north down Chalmers Crescent and Argyle Place, then across
The Meadows using the footpath/cycle track and back along Forrest
Road.
Continue along
George IV Bridge until
you reach Lawnmarket and turn left. Free St Columbas Church is
on the junction of this road with Johnston Terrace on your left.
21. FREE ST
COLUMBAS
This is one of only two Free Churches still remaining in
Edinburgh
today, as most of them went into the union with the United Presbyterian
Church in 1900 and then into union with the Church of Scotland
in 1929. This is where the Free Church hold their General Assembly
every year in May. If you get chance to look around inside, the
ornate pulpit is worth seeing. During Edinburgh Festival week
there is usually a cafe here.
Turn left
out of
the Church and continue
up Castlehill.
22. EDINBURGH
CASTLE
The Argyll Tower was a place where Covenanters were held as
it was a state prison.
From the
castle
head back down Castlehill
but take the first turning on your left, Ramsay Lane. This turns
right into Mound Place.
23. NEW COLLEGE
On your right is New College. This was originally built as
a Free Church College after the Disruption in 1843. Fifty years
later, in 1893, in the Assembly Hall, Rev. Donald Macfarlane of
Raasay tabled his protest at the General Assembly over the passing
of a Declaratory Act which changed the terms of adherence of ministers
and elders to the Confessions of the church. This led to the formation
of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland. In 1900 the bulk
of the Free Church united with the United Presbyterian Church
to form the United Free Church. In 1905, after the dispute with
the Free Church remnant over property was resolved, the United
Free Church obtained the building. They in turn united with the
Church of Scotland in 1929 and so the building is now used as
a Church of Scotland theological college and is where they hold
their General Assembly every year. The Free High Church built
as an integral part of the building became New College Library
in 1936 and now houses the largest separate theological library
in Britain. In 1961 the Church of Scotland gave the building to
the University of Edinburgh, but under strict conditions. A statue
of John Knox stands inside the courtyard, outside the main entrance
to the library.
24. FREE CHURCH
COLLEGE
Just a short distance further along (to the east) at 15 North
Bank Street lies the present day Free Church College. In 1727
James Brownhill built this building as, what was it that day,
a block of luxury flats The philosopher David Hume (1771-1776)
purchased a flat here in 1762. It was bought in 1858 for the rapidly
expanding Free Church to house their offices, and after losing
New College in 1905 this building was also used thereafter as
their theological college. This dual function of offices and college
is still maintained to the present day.
If the caretaker is available he will be glad to show any interested
visitor around. Some of the more interesting rooms inside include:
(1) The Presbytery Room: This is where the Edinburgh and Perth
Presbytery meet in monthly session. It contains a large picture
by David Octavius Hill depicting all the Free Churchmen signing
the Deed of Demission in the Tanfield Hall in 1843. It took over
20 years to paint and is really a little inaccurate as not all
of the people depicted were actually at the event, although all
fully supported it.
(2) The Senate Room: This room contains a good collection of
books including some very rare Puritan works. The business of
the College is conducted here.
(3) The Chalmers Room: This is used as an examination room
for the college students. It is also used as a meeting room for
the Ladies Missionary Society and as the College Common Hall.
It contains many interesting documents, including the actual protest
read out at the Church of Scotland General Assembly in 1843 after
which 200 ministers walked out, and a copy of Archbishop Laud's
prayer book which Charles I tried to impose on the people in 1638.
After Presbyterianism was re-established, all the copies of it
that could be found were burnt, so there are probably no more
than half a dozen left in the world today.
Just inside the entrance foyer of the building on the left
is the Free Church Bookshop. This is open Monday to Friday 11am-1pm
and 1.30pm-5pm. Tel. 0131-220 0669.
Now head
north
down The Mound and
turn left into Princes Street to return to Thomas Guthrie's statue (No.
1),
where the tour now ends.
APPENDIX: PLACES
TO VISIT OUTSIDE
THE CITY CENTRE
1. DEAN CEMETERY
This is
situated
in Dean Village and
can be included in the tour as a detour from Point no. 2, Thomas
Chalmers statue. It is situated about 3/4 mile from it. Head north-west
up Queensferry Street then bear left down Bells Brae and Dean
Path. The entrance to the cemetery is on your left.
Brownlow North (1810-1875) is buried here. He was the grandson
of the Bishop of Winchester and great-grandson of Lord North,
British Prime Minister. He studied at Eton. He lived a careless
life until he was converted in 1854. He became a gifted preacher
and the Free Church eventually recognised him as an evangelist.
He preached to thousands throughout Scotland and Northern Ireland
and was the instrument used in revival in 1859 and the years following.
His grave
is situated at the far end of the cemetery, from the
first roundabout bear left then continue in that direction for
250 yards. The grave is an obelisk on the left of the path near
a large rotunda grave to a James Buchanan on the right.
2. REDFORD ROAD
COLUMN
This
column is
situated in Redford
Road approx 3 miles south of the city centre. Best approach (by
car) is to leave Edinburgh on the A702 Biggar road. Just before
hitting the Ring Road head right at the traffic lights along Oxgangs
Road, then bear left onto Redford Road. The column is on your
left hand side outside the entrance to Dreghorn Barracks.
This marks the furthest spot in 1666 that the Covenanters who
were involved in the 'Pentland Rising' reached before being forced
to turn back. The rising began in Dalry in Kirkcudbrightshire,
and the people marched towards Edinburgh, gathering supporters
on the way, but their expected reinforcements from Edinburgh did
not appear and they were forced to retreat from this spot to Rullion
Green (3) where they were slaughtered by government troops under
the leadership of General Tam Dalyell.
3. RULLION GREEN
From
junction of
A702 and A703 at
Straiton, 4 miles south of the City Centre, head away from Edinburgh
on the A702 but check your mileage at this junction. After exactly
3.5 miles there is a farm track heading off to your right. Park
you car here and walk up the track. Upon reaching the farm, head
diagonally across field towards the wood, and you will see the
monument come into view in front of the wood surrounded by railings.
This was the scene of the battle which terminated the Pentland
Rising in 1666. An ill-trained and poorly equipped force of 900
Covenanters were routed by General Dalyell's troops. About 50
were killed, but many more suffered as a result. This became an
excuse for the severe persecution of the Covenanters. The stone
records that John Crookshanks, Andrew McCormick and 50 others
fell on 28th November 1666. Prisoners were taken to 'Haddow's
Hole' in St Giles Cathedral (No. 14). The Covenanters were led
by Major Joseph Learmont.