The group of burial grounds are all within the city's World Heritage Site, and include the Greyfriars, Canongate, Old Calton, New Calton, and St Cuthberts graveyards. Buried within them are international figures such as the economist Adam Smith, the philosopher David Hume; as well as important characters from the history of the city such as the poet Robert Fergusson, James Craig who planned the New Town and of course 'Greyfriars Bobby' the famously loyal Skye Terrier.
The World Monuments Watch list seeks to highlight threats to heritage sites, drawing international attention to efforts to save them for future generations. Nominations from around the world form a long list, and an independent panel of experts select the final 100 sites.
Inclusion on the list does not come with monetary awards, although it does open the door to support from other preservation minded organisations across the globe, and from the World Monuments Fund, which offers logistical advice and consulting services to those on the list.
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The challenges facing the graveyards are complex, but often come down to a question of ownership, which has led to neglect and in turn has led to antisocial behaviour. Headstones, tombs and memorials are owned by the family but over hundreds of years they are forgotten and fall into disrepair. The City of Edinburgh Council and the churches are respectively responsible for general maintenance, but there are no funds available for repair. Graveyards also offer secluded spaces for drug-taking and other anti-social behaviour, which can deter visitors as they feel unsafe.
Conservation works have been taking place, for example the City of Edinburgh Council, Historic Scotland, Edinburgh World Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund have all recently funded graveyard projects. However a comprehensive strategy is required to address all the issues of conservation and access. This would not only enable high quality conservation of the tombs and headstones, but also allow for improvements in pathways, lighting and the interpretation of the graveyards for visitors.
Adam Wilkinson, Director of Edinburgh World Heritage said: "Edinburgh's historic graveyards are an incredible resource for the city. Their continued decay would be tantamount to a loss of part of our cultural memory, as well as the loss of green oases in the heart of the city.
"We really welcome the City's positive move of putting the five graveyards in the World Heritage Site forward for inclusion on the World Monument Fund's list of most endangered sites as a means of raising awareness about their plight beyond Edinburgh and Scotland, and the focus this will give us, the council and the churches in coordinating our efforts for their repair, interpretation and opening to a wider audience."
(GK/BMcC)
