How did Scots deal with realities of death in a society where
disease, ill health or accident touched most families? Find out
about some of the rituals and customs surrounding death, burial and
mourning in this fascinating gallery.
Burial rites
The rituals of burial began in the home where the corpse
remained while family and friends gathered to pay their respects
(Case 1). There was usually a procession to the kirkyard with the
coffin, either on foot or with a horse-drawn hearse.
The hearse from Bolton, East Lothian, began to be used in the
1780s. The mortsafe is a reminder of the fear of grave robbers, who
dug up corpses for the study of anatomy.
Remembering the dead
In Victorian times,mourning customs became increasingly
elaborate, with etiquette demanding not only the wearing of black
clothes and jewellery but the use of a whole range of mourning
accessories (Case 2). This could be costly, and 'correct' mourning
soon became a sign of status.
Death and belief
Older customs survived, and part of the display is concerned
with some of the traditional beliefs that affected attitudes to
death. Objects include charms and amulets, and the intriguing
miniature coffins found on Arthur's Seat and never fully explained
(Case 3).