Friends of Greyfriars Kirkyard
helping to understand, appreciate & conserve Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh
A few weeks ago, Friends of Greyfriars Kirkyard trustees Chris Cooper (Treasurer) and Mark Hatton (Chair) gave two fascinating talks at an evening lecture put on by Edinburgh World Heritage. Chris shed further light on the man (and woman!) behind the enigmatic Bayne monument while Mark made a compelling case for why the George Heriot marker can be considered a trendsetter for monument designs in the years that followed. Both talks can now be viewed on YouTube.
A talk by Chris Cooper on the The John Bayne of Pitcairlie Mausoleum, Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh. Focusing on the lives and legacies of John Bayne and Eupham Aikman.
This talk was given on 18th April 2026 as part of the Legacies in Stone community heritage project. Brought to you by Edinburgh World Heritage, the Friends of Greyfriars Kirkyard, and the City of Edinburgh Council as part of the Legacies in Stone project. Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.
To view this talk on our YouTube channel please Click Here
A Landmark Discovery
Something remarkable just happened at Greyfriars Kirkyard. On April 18th, a team of volunteers, archaeologists, and conservators achieved what hasn’t been done in living memory: lifting the massive ledger stone within the John Bayne of Pitcairlie enclosure.
The Rescue Mission
For decades, photographic records showed the stone slowly being swallowed by the earth. After carefully clearing the topsoil, the team discovered the stone had cracked under the pressure. It has now been entrusted to expert stone conservator Nic Boyes for off-site repair before its eventual return to its rightful place.
The Mystery Below
Beyond the stone itself, the team was hunting for a hidden vault. With the Pitcairlie mausoleum showing signs of settlement, understanding the ground conditions is vital for its survival.
The findings so far:
A Future Secured
These are small steps, but they are essential. Every discovery brings this Category A listed structure one step closer to a safe and secure future.
Two ways to stay tuned as we continue to peel back the layers of Edinburgh’s history. Please become a member of Friends of Greyfriars Kirkyard at fogk.org or join the Edinburgh World Heritage mailing list at ewht.org.uk
Supported by: the National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to the National Lottery players and the City of Edinburgh Council. Legacies in Stone: Connecting Communities with Historic Graveyards is a partnership project with Edinburgh World Heritage.
It was an exciting day at Greyfriars Kirkyard!
Today we got closer to learning “What secrets lie beneath John Bayne’s feet?”
It was our day to investigate one of Greyfriars Kirkyard’s most famous — yet puzzling – monuments and learn how we hope to save it for the future.The Mystery of the Bayne Ledger Stone From a bow-maker’s workshop to the King’s inner legal circle, John Bayne’s rise to ‘Writer to the Signet’ was a 17th-century success story. But did his ambition extend below ground?
The ledger stone of John Bayne’s tomb is broken. In repairing it, we have a unique opportunity to look deeper. We are investigating whether this gravestone serves as the ‘lid’ to a hidden burial vault.
This event is brought to you by Edinburgh World Heritage, the Friends of Greyfriars Kirkyard, and the City of Edinburgh Council as part of the Legacies in Stone project. Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.
Here are some of the best photos I captured from the event. I’ll let one of the other committee members share what we found, and what is still to be determined (ground-penetrating radar is up next!)
