A tour of memorial stones within the graveyard of Irvine Old Parish Church, hosted by the seven Trades Guilds of Irvine to celebrate there rich heritage dating from 1646!

Tours are available at 2pm on the following Saturdays:~

• May 9th - 16th - 23rd
• June 6th - 13th - 20th
• July 4th - 11th - 18th
• August 1st - 8th - 15th 

For further information contact Billy Kerr at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Homecoming Scotland 2009 is a Scottish Government initiative managed by EventScotland in partnership with VisitScotland, to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns. From Burns night to St Andrew’s Day, a country wide programme of exciting and inspirational events and activities will celebrate some of Scotland’s great contributions to the world: Burns himself, Whisky, Golf, Great Minds and Innovations, and our rich culture and heritage.

Trades Graveyard Tour Memorial Stones

Below is a selection of Memorial Stones that feature on the Irvine Old Parish Graveyard Tour, with a brief description of each memorial stone. (Please click each image to enlarge)

	1 - James Steedman James Steedman (sometimes Steadman) was a carpenter who lived in the Seagate. He died in 1865 aged 75. Local tradition claims that he invented the screw propeller for ships. The prototype (see base of stone for carving of) was taken to London on 1839 and shown to a rival engineer, who it is claimed, pirated the idea and patented it in someone else's name.
	2 - John Reoch No 2 belongs to the CORDINER CRAFT. John Reoch, shoemaker died 1730 aged 83. He was Deacon Convener 1703-1706 and 1708-1712. Also interred here is his wife Mary Jelly, and their son also John Reoch, who followed in his father's footsteps (no pun intended) in being a shoemaker and Deacon Convener 1721-1723. John the younger died 1735.
	3 - Robert Montgomerie Robert Montgomerie, Mariner Trade, a sailor and the year recorded is 1726. The fact that there is no rigging displayed on the relief carved ship would indicate that Robert was an ordinary sailor, as compared to No 13.  The image of 'winged death' above the ship is to remind the onlooker of their mortality and that death is swooping down on them, even as they look on.
	4 - Name not known Weaver Craft - Dated 1737.  This memorial dating c1737 is evidence of improved trading links between Scotland and England following the 1707 Act of Union.  It almost identical to the coat of arms of The Worshipful Company of Weavers, the oldest livery company in the city of London, first mentioned in 1130.  Take a closer look at the relief carved shield, leopards with shuttles in their mouths, separated by a chevron with tree rosettes.  There is little doubt, that if the earth was cleared at the base of this stone it would reveal the Weavers motto of "Weave Truth with Trust".
	5 - John Thomson In memory of John Thomson who died 1688. He was a burgess in Irvine and a flesher (butcher). Take a look at the top of Image 1 (Top) and you will see the tools of his trade, a cleaver, an axe and a knife. On Image 2 (Bottom) we see John being raised on Judgement Day with his new Resurrection body. The angel top right is blowing the trumpet while the other is placing the Crown of Life on his new wig.
	6 - James Robertson James Robertson died 1819 aged 89 (not a bad innings at that time). He was a COOPER who lived and worked in the Halfway (now Asdas). Look at the centre of the stone, you can see a small barrel, surrounded by the tools of his trade. The adze (above barrel) with the Draw Knife (to the right) and compass to the left. Also mentioned on the other side of the memorial is the death of his son William. He "perished at sea with all the ships company" on 10th Oct 1835.
	7 - John Orr John Orr died 1779 in his 60's. He was a MALSTER. His tools, the Grain Shovel and the Mash Oar are a superb statment of is trade. Malsters were a vital part of living, with no availble clean water to drink, they supplied the only healthy common beverage. The stone also says that he was sometimes a farmer. This would indicate that during the Summer months he would farm and the rest of the year he would ply his trade.
	8 - John Broun This is an old HAMMERMAN stone.  John Broun c1638-1703 would have been born prior to the Trades institution of 1646.  He stood as Deacon Convenor 1678-1679. On the top of this stone is carved the initials D McT. This was a descendant of John Broun called Daniel McTaggart who died in 1852. He was Burgh Officer, and said to be the terror of all mischievous boys about the streets. He was in the army long as an officer's servant, was a polite man and a good barber. Provost Paterson said of him "to see Dan salute was something to be remembered".
	9 - David Burns No 8 belongs to the CORDINER CRAFT. This stone displays the classic symbols of that particular craft, the half-moon cutting knife, topped by a crown. His name was David Burns, shoemaker, who died 1772. He served as Deacon Convener 1756-1758.
	10 - John Robeson HAMMERMEN CRAFT this one. See hammer below crown. Don't know much about this guy other than his name John Robeson, and the approximate date of 1767. The symbol above the crown in that of Winged Death. It was there to remind the observer that death was homing in on them, even as the looked on. Very common on memorials of that time.
	11 - William Clark William Clark of the WRIGHTS and SQUAREMEN CRAFT. He died 1803 aged 66. What is lacking on information of him is compensated by the details of his trade carved on his stone. Within the arch can be seen an axe, hammer, square and dividers.
	12 - Robert Harper WRIGHTS and SQUAREMEN. Robert Harper c1778. The stone has the same lay out as No 10 - William Clark, but a completely different style, obviously not wrought by the same man.
	13 - Robert Francis MARINER TRADE. A shipmaster as compared to No 3 (Robert Montgomerie) a sailor. His name was Robert Francis who died in 1733. He was from a ancient Irvine family that were known as Francis of Stane, Robert lived in Hill Street. The carving on this stone would have been a pictorial representation of the actual Brig that Robert Francis was shipmaster of. It is also intended to be a tribute to his skill as a master mariner as the masts and pendants of the Brig's sails are 'tacking into the wind'.
	14 - Jean (Daughter of Robert Wear) This memorial has the oldest date of all the stones on the tour: 1674. It belongs to the COOPER CRAFT (see compass and adze). It was put up by a man called Robert Wear in memory of his daughter Jean, who died that year. The location and date of this gravestone would indicate that possibly Jean died of the plague. Directly beside her resting place was a hillock known as the Plague Knowe, a mass grave of Irvine's plague victims. Apparently, locals would dump their rubbish on the mass grave in the belief that they were repelling the disease. It was levelled in 1820 and used as common burial ground.
	15 - Rev James Richmond An occupation stone of a church minister. See carved bible on top of memorial. It is easy to forget the historic christian dimension of the Incorporated Trades, but consider the motto of several of the Guilds, God is infinite, God is our hope and To God only be all glory, it is a clear reminder of this. He was the Rev James Richmond, minister of Old Parish for thirty years till his death on 1804. Local tradition says that Burns celebrated his first communion in Irvine 1781/1782 and it was Mr Richmond who administered the sacrament.
	16 - Poe Stone It is of shipmaster Robert Allan who died 27/6/1770 aged 39.  This burial lair is where Edgar Allan Poe acquired his middle name from, having been raised by Irvinite, John Allan, of the same family. "Tho' winds & waves & raging seas / have toss'd us to and fro / yet by the hand of providence / we harbour here below / Safe from the dangers of them all / and rests as in a sleep / till he who saveth us does call /to join the joyful fleet. For further information, please visit www.poeinscotland.com