Lairg Burial Ground, Manse Road, Lairg

Heritage listing

Category B Date Added 18/03/1971 Local Authority Highland Planning Authority Highland Parish Lairg NGR NC 58051 07252 Coordinates 258051, 907252 — Rubbled walled burial ground. Various 18th, 19th and 20th century tombs and memorials, including memorials to William Gray (1749) and to the Mackay family. William Gray; dated 1749, tomb stone small flanking fluted pilasters and symbols of mortality, coffin, crossed bones and bell, all mounted in later rubble plinth, possibly section of former church wall. Mackay Memorial, erected circa 1803. square panelled ashlar plinth with inscriptions in English and Gaelic. Moulded cope, stepped apex with urn finial. Low stepped base supporting cast-iron spearhead railing. Matheson Memorial. Erected 1880. Imposing blue/grey marble classical loggia, supported by polished granite plinth to 6 Corinthian columns with poppy seed heads decorating capitals. Round-arched centre bays east and west with decorated spandrels; centre ribbed leaded dome; moulded entablature surmounted by 8 urn finials with stylised flames; similarly detailed apex finial to dome. Outer bays linked by low retaining wall decorated with swags. Square white marble pedestal (signed A. Viegl, Menton) stands under dome with inset medallion relief depicting Sir James Matheson of Achany, 1796-1878; pedestal surmounted by white marble cross with dove and floral wreath. — Site of former parish church. For Matheson Memorial see separate entry. Rev John Mackay and son Thomas, Ministers of Lairg from 1914 to 1803. Also latter's sons Hugh (killed at Assaye 1803) and William, author of NARRATIVE OF THE SHIP WRECK OF THE JUNE (1795), largely embodied in Byron's DON JUAN. Sir James Matheson was born at West Shinness, by Lairg. He was one of the founder members of the firm of Jardine Mat

From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.