Cathedral’s graves are subject of attention

[WORKS IS BEING carried out on the stabilisation, repair and re-erection of gravestones at Dunblane Cathedral. The work, which is being undertaken by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) staff with specialist training in gravestone and monument inspection, is seeing repairs undertaken to improve access to the graves and the wider cathedral grounds.

The work is continuing on gravestones around the main entrance, progressing to secondary entrances and pathways.

HES has carried out inspections of 595 gravestones at Dunblane Cathedral, with more than 130 identified to date as dangerous and requiring repair. That is as a result of a number of factors, including age and exposure to the elements. Responsibility for the maintenance of memorials lies primarily with the lair owner or family. To help progress the repair programme HES is appealing to owners of memorials to come forward. While some owners have been identified and are arranging repairs, HES is keen to involve the local community further in helping to identify more owners, as well as interpreting and recording the memorials in the graveyard to support the essential work being carried out.

HES is prioritising stabilisation works to memorials posing the greatest risk to the public, and some access restrictions are currently in place for health and safety reasons until repairs are completed. As those works are carried out, HES will continue to review the extent of the fenced areas to see where it can be reduced to lessen the impact of the access restrictions, with a rolling programme of phased repairs being undertaken.

Jessica Hunnisett, district surveyor at HES, commented: “We’re pleased to be able to start work on repairing some of the gravestones within Dunblane Cathedral. We are prioritising memorials which pose the greatest risk and those which affect access to the cathedral.

“We know that the community is very keen for access to be reinstated and owners who are concerned that their memorials may be affected are encouraged to come forward and discuss how we can assist them in progressing repairs.”

Paul Nelson of Dunblane Development Trust said: “The restored 12th-century cathedral is the centre of historic Dunblane, alongside the 17th-century Leighton Library and Museum buildings. It is critical, for the businesses that operate in Dunblane High St, that the cathedral is accessible and visitors are encouraged to come to the cathedral and Dunblane. We are, therefore, glad that HES has commenced this work in the grounds of the cathedral and look forward to the rapid completion of the improvements.” q