A Very Poignant Walk

[Bertha]

My other half and I were out for a walk on this lovely summer evening along the Water of Leith, we decided to leave by way of Gallery of Modern Art but found the gate closed (seems closes at 6 even on a summer night!).
We decided to explore a dirt path to see if there was an exit to the road.
No luck but we did discover a small grave yard of some 12 small stones, each with intials engraved on them on the adjacent wall was a plaque baring the details of 12 children who had all died by the age of 12 if I remember correctly. The plaque looked in very good condition so may have been added in recent years
This got me going so when I came home I logged on to SP and looked up 3 of the children names I could remember. Seems they were all pupils of John Watsons Hospital which was actually housed in the Modern Art Gallery.
I also did a google on the hospital and now know a bit more about the history of that and the area in which I live which has 3 institutions originally set up for the disadvantaged children of Edinburgh, John Watson's, (Gallery of Modern Art), Stewarts (now Stewarts Melville) and the Orphan hospital (now the Dean Gallery). I also found out that the money that once supported John Watson's (which closed in 1975) goes on supporting disadvantaged childrens education (his original bequest in the late 18th century was £2000!).
If anyone would like information on these children, I can go up and get it. Some of the names I remember, George Anderson (the only boy), Eliza Agnes Ramage, Janet Whitehead and I think a Margaret Sharp. All the dates were in the region 1828-1888.
Goodnight all
Bertha

[LesleyB]

Hi Bertha
Almost sounds like a good thing that the gate at the Dean Art Gallery was closed. What an interesting find!

I wonder if the graves have ever been listed. Perhaps you have found one of Edinburgh's forgotten resting places?

Best wishes
Lesley

[Bertha]

Hi Lesley

As to whether the site is registered somewhere I don't know but it is well looked after.
Have edited my post, got my galleries mixed up.
Regards
Bertha

[anne]

Hi Bertha

Many thanks, you have prompted me to do again what I haven't done for years - have a walk along that section of the Water of Leith. It really is beautiful there. I had never heard of the graveyard and can understand how you were affected by such an unexpected find.

It does seem to be very little-known. Googling has only so far produced a log by someone engaged in "Geocaching" who says it is the "almost unknown graveyard of the school" and gives its co-ordinates. I'd never heard of Geocaching - apparently it's a treasure-hunting game where GPS is used to hide and seek containers with other participants in the activity.

So I've learned two things I didn't know before!

Anne