East Preston Street Burial Ground, Historic burial ground in southern Edinburgh, Scotland
East Preston Street Burial Ground is a historic cemetery in southern Edinburgh with graves surrounded by sturdy stone walls and a small watchtower standing at the corner where East Preston Street meets Dalkeith Road. The grounds display a mix of individual plots and enclosed stone burial vaults that line the perimeter of the site.
The site opened in 1820 as Newington Burial Ground before receiving its current name in 1848 following the creation of another burial ground nearby. This name change followed Edinburgh's expansion as the city needed additional cemetery space for its growing population.
The burial ground holds the graves of several influential figures who shaped Edinburgh's banking and religious life during the 1800s. Walking through the site, visitors can see how this place served as a final resting place for people who played important roles in the city's development.
The grounds are accessible around the clock, allowing visitors to explore the cemetery at any time that suits them. Stone walls mark clear boundaries around the site, making it straightforward to navigate and understand the layout while walking through.
The small watchtower on the grounds was built specifically to guard against grave robbers, reflecting security concerns that were common in burial grounds of that era. The iron-barred stone vaults positioned around the perimeter show how seriously families took the protection of their dead.
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