Greyfriars Kirkyard/Cemetery
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Body snatchers, violent ghosts, a loyal dog, and Harry Potter characters, may seem like strange bedfellows, but in Scotlands gorgeous, gothic capital city of Edinburgh, the four merge to make up the ghostly lore surrounding one of the worlds most haunted graveyards.
Greyfriars vast burial ground, has been interring the deceased, since the 16th Century, and has gained a reputation for being the scariest, infamous, and most haunted graveyard, in the world.
Its was established as a burial area during the reign of Mary Queen of Scots.
Ever since then it has seen over 100,000 people buried there.
This 400 year old resting place, has played a role in many of Edinburghs most important historic chapters.
Many of the cities most notable residents have been buried here, as well as it being a home for Franciscan Friars and the Covenanters!
Around the year 1477, Franciscan Friars built and established a Friary, on the North End of Grassmarket, overlooking the castle.
They were called Greyfriars as they wore grey robes hence where the Kirk and Graveyard get their names!
For years, they healed the sick in Edinburgh until they were forced out of the friary during the Reformation in 1558.
Mary Queen of Scots then reclaimed the land in 1562, and established it as a burial ground.
Thousands were then buried here, during the Black Plague of 1568.
During Queen Marys short and turbulent reign, there were many Lords buried here in unmarked graves.
Including James Douglas, who was accused on murdering Queen Marys husband.
The cemetery has gained infamy and legends, during its long lifetime.
It is rumored the names carved upon tombstones, may have also inspired some Harry Potter characters, too.
It is known that J.K. Rowling conceived her famed novels in a coffee shop nearby, and many have connected the names in the books, to the names shown in Greyfriars Kirkyard, especially the graves of McGonagall, Moodie, Charles Black and even Tom Riddle!
There is an ominous entity, that is rumored to haunt Greyfriars Kirkyard.
This entity is known as the 'Mackenzie Poltergeist' who is said to be one of the most aggressive, and active paranormal figures around.
This ghost is thought to be that of George Mackenzie, who died and was interred in the Mackenzie tomb back in the 1800s.
Though it wasnt until the 1990s, when the ghost was thought to be awoken.
This occurred after a homeless man, seeking refuge from the weather, broke into the tomb.
While he was breaking in, the floor collapsed beneath his feet, and he fell into a pit full of bones of old plague victims.
He managed to pull himself out and run away, however, it is said that this unearthed something terrible MacKenzies ghost!
He received quite a shock, being attacked by a vicious, invisible force.
Ever since then, many accounts exist, of people entering the Mackenzie tomb, and being bitten, scratched, have bruises around their necks, been found unconscious near the tomb, and even had bones broken.
Many even claim, this is the reason that the tomb is sealed off now, for public safety.
The Covenantors Prison, is connected to Greyfriars Kirkyard by a stone gateway, and locked metal grate near MacKenzies mausoleum.
It was once home to an estimated 1200 unfortunate members of a failed anti-government revolution in 1679.
Conditions at the prison were so brutal, that only 257 of the prisoners came out alive, four months after their mass incarceration.
Many were abused by guards, died of exposure, and starved to death.
They are thought to be buried in an anonymous mass grave somewhere in the yard!
In the daylight hours, Greyfriars Kirkyard is a beautiful place for a tranquil stroll, revealing only hints of its bloody past.
Typical of most old cemeteries, eerie carved-stone Angels of Death, and other ghoulish figures, adorn many of the tombstones.
But its the imposing metal grills covering some of the graves that really stand out.
In the early 1800s, the University of Edinburghs prestigious medical studies program flourished, inadvertently sparking an underground trade in corpses stolen by body snatchers, and sold to local students.
Soon, the nefarious practice became an epidemic.
To prevent these entrepreneurs from making off with their loved ones, families would protect the graves by boxing them in with iron cages, called mortsafes, that ran deep into the ground.
Thousands of tourists who visit Edinburgh, pop by Greyfriars Kirkyard each year.
Its open 24 hours of the day, 7 days a week.
Plus, its a great budget activity as entry is completely free.
Just dont go at night........
adex3g
