Saturday 12th September 2026 was James Anderson Day — and what a day it was.
Just 340 years ago, a craftsman, James Anderson was owed £80 for “painting, colouring and gilding” the newly built John Baine of Pitcairlie mausoleum. We know remarkably little about the people who actually built 17th-century Edinburgh, and here, at last, is one of their names.
To mark the occasion, Dr Louisa Campbell, University of Glasgow, an expert in polychromy, the study of paintwork on old sculptures and buildings opened the day with a fascinating talk on how researchers investigate and analyse historic paint. Armed with this new knowledge, members of Friends of Greyfriars Kirkyard and Edinburgh World Heritage spent two hours giving the John Baine statue a close examination, searching for original paintwork.
We’re waiting eagerly on the laboratory results before we can say whether any paint samples were found. But if they have been, this could be the first step towards contributing to a national database of painted monuments.
The day turned up two genuine discoveries. Close inspection revealed that John Baine is holding a pen — or quill — in his right hand, reinforcing the idea that this mausoleum is a tribute to a celebrated writer to the signet. And for the first time, carved lettering was spotted beneath the skull and crossbones on the monument’s front face. Both promise to deepen our understanding of a mausoleum commissioned by Eupham Aikman in memory of her husband, John Baine.
None of this would be possible without the generous support of Edinburgh World Heritage and the National Lottery — thank you.
To find out more about the Legacies in Stone Project, or to get involved, contact Friends of Greyfriars Kirkyard (fogk.org) or Edinburgh World Heritage (ewh.org).
