If you read this blog regularly, you’ll have seen earlier posts (5/7/20; 1/3/21; 1/5/21) reporting that James Hogg’s gravestone in Ettrick Kirkyard had been laid flat on health and safety grounds.
The good news is that the stone is now
upright once again after close to five years. The photo below, which was taken
by Hogg’s great-great-great-granddaughter Perrine Gilkison, shows the stone
back in its proper position.
The thanks of all admirers of Hogg and his
works go to Thomas Brown & Sons, the Melrose firm of Funeral Directors that
generously carried out the restoration free of charge. Thanks must also go to
John Nichol, Vicky Davidson and Daphne Jackson and their associates who have
been actively promoting the restoration project over the years.
It is planned that money that was earlier
contributed to restoring the gravestone will be used to fund a plaque in the
churchyard that will transcribe the weathered inscription on it.
