Ref - SMMMLNB02

Alias - Allan / Wilson Stone

County - Midlothian

Parish - Newbattle 

Graveyard - Newbattle Graveyard 

Year -  1741

Stone - Red sandstone 

Motifs - winged spirit,  hour glass, pick, mash, wedge, cross bones.

Insciption - West face - HERE LYETH ROBERT ALLAN SON TO // JOHN ALLAN COALZIER AT LONGLAU // DIED NOV 29TH 1752. ‘JESUS SAID “SUFFER LITTLE CHILDREN TO COME INTO ME, FOR OF SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF OF HEAVEN”’ 

East face - HERE LYETH // WILLIAM DOUGLASS COALZIER AT LONGLAU // HUSBAND TO MAR PATTERSON // & 2 CHILDREN WHO DIED 1741 // WE INFANTS HERE ON EARTH // THOUGH SILENT BORN // BUT WE DID RAIS OUR SOULS / … DOTH GOD ADOR. (Carrick 1903)

Description  - This stone, commemorating two separate families of colliers on both of its faces, bears pick, mash and wedge motifs, signifying the occupations of the deceased. This insignia is uncommon. It is also uncommon for two families to share a stone, suggested as being in the “spirit of economy.”  (Carrick, 1903) As they were both from the small settlement of Langlaw, it is very likely the families were well known to one another.  On the opposite side to the mining motifs and winged spirit, alongside the usual mometo mori  imagery,  stands a large figure, roughly 45cm in height. In equally outstretched arms it holds a book whose inscription has not yet been transcribed, and a flower / fruit motif.  Betty Willsher has identified this as a resurrection scene.

Notes:  Many thanks to Aimée Logue for providing this scan.