Plague victims get a memorial at last

Published on Thursday 25 September 2008 10:10

THEIR final resting place has lain unmarked for more than 350 years, but now thousands of victims of the Great Plague of Leith of 1645 are finally to be commemorated.

Thousands more victims will also be remembered, including Leithers from as early as the ninth century who were too poor to have a headstone in one of the port's many graveyards.

A new memorial – a model of which was revealed yesterday – is being erected as part of the 400th anniversary of South Leith Parish Church and will be placed in its grounds as a permanent tribute to an estimated 90,000 Leithers buried in unmarked graves across the area.

Rev Ian Gilmour said: "It is only right to give something to all these people, not just those in our graveyard.

"I am delighted with the final design for the memorial and am confident others will be too."

The idea for a permanent sculpture was the brainchild of Rev Gilmour, who is organising many events to mark the anniversary of his Kirkgate church, including a competition to crown the greatest Leithers of all time.

Last January, he invited artists to design a sculpture, to be unveiled in January 2009, stressing that the Water of Leith must focus heavily in the final piece.

He said: "The significance of the water is that it is key to all developments in Leith, whether that was shipbuilding or people choosing to build houses here."

The winning design was by sculptor Graciela Ainsworth, whose previous work has included the Queen's Gallery arch, the patron board in Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and the Gate Pier in Princes Street Gardens.

Working closely with Rev Gilmour, her two-piece sculpture will be made from sandstone – Dunhouse Grey and Cop Cragg – depicting the Water of Leith, Christian fish and the burning bush, representing eternal life. Ms Ainsworth, who has worked from her Newhaven Road studio for 18 years, said: "It is an absolute honour to be doing this. I feel greatly privileged."

An estimated 11,000 people are thought to be buried in unmarked graves at South Leith Parish Church, according to church records.

EPIDEMIC KILLED THOUSANDS

THE Great Plague of Leith began on August 3, 1645, killing thousands of residents.

Two men and one woman living in the Yardheads area are thought to have been the first victims and were confined to their homes with a white sheet hung from the window.

Days later cases were reported at King James VI hospital in the churchyard of South Leith, followed by many more across the area.

The plague was recorded by the church's session clerk with only a six-day break in his record, understood to have been due to him being confined to his house.

He, however, survived the outbreak.

It is unknown exactly how many people died because of the epidemic.