The Free Gardeners’ Stone The stone's carvings draw on the rich sym- ourful parades. bolism of the Free Gardeners, a fraternal society founded in Haddington in 1676 which The carvings on the stone include several grew to have lodges all over the country and Free Gardener symbols such as the compass, set square and pruning knife over 10,000 members in the Lothians alone. The 8ft alongside depictions of the sandstone block was carved tree of life, 'Jock in the Green' and the four rivers of as part of a public art comthe Garden of Eden. Hadmission supported by Persimmon Homes through dington's goat can be seen East Lothian Council’s Perclimbing the tree of knowledge. The former cent for Art scheme. Mitsubishi factory which “I became fascinated with stood on the site is referthe story of the Free Garenced in the form of a beedeners, their rich symbolhive with three oak leaves as ism, regalia and the artea nod to the origins of the facts they left behind. I wonMitsubishi crest. dered how a public artwork The north face of the stone is might make a tangible connection to these ideas while covered in plant fossils from referencing other links to over 300 million years ago including Lepidodendron and Calamites - two local history and folklore.” of the oldest group living vascular plants. The Ancient Order of Free Gardeners, as they Within the fossils are three carvings reprebecame known, bought a tenement in Had- senting these massive tree-like forms which dington as their base which became the Gar- grew to 30-50 metres and were the most imdeners Arms. They functioned like an early portant contributors to the great coal beds trade union or mutual aid society with sup- that fuelled the Industrial Revolution. port for the poor while also holding floral exhibitions, tree planting ceremonies and col- By James Winnett
Cross Keys April 2021
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