SAINT CUTHBERT'S BURIAL GROUND

ABOUT

Found on the west side of Princes Street, Saint Cuthbert’s Burial Ground is a large cemetery full of gravestones, tombs, and more. Watchtowers are located beside the entrances to the cemetery, where men were once stationed to watch out for grave robbers, who would steal bodies to sell to health professors for their classes.

Due to the practice of grave robbing, the rich built fences around their graves in the hopes that they would be left in peace. However, these were often climbed over, and even today you may see someone jumping a fence holding a shovel.

As the story goes, this cemetery was the site of many people being accidentally buried alive. To prevent this, a string was tied to the body’s wrist and attached to a bell beside the gravesite. It was also the watchman’s job to listen for the bells and dig them out, truly being “saved by the bell.” 

If you visit during the night, perhaps you can hear some poor soul still ringing their bell, in hope of rescue.