Edinkillie Watch house

This unusual 19th century hexagonal watch house is situated against the south wall of Edinkillie Kirkyard. The angled shape gave a good view of the kirkyard to watchers on the look out for Resurrectionists, body snatchers attempting to steal recently interred corpses. The throughtout Scotland corpses were stolen for sale to universities with schools of anatomy. Family members or paid watchers guarded the kirkyard at night for around a month after a burial- a fireplace opposite the door of this watch house would have provided them with a little comfort.