The Howff Cemetery Dundee

The Howff, Dundee, Scotland

An Urban Cemetery, The Howff, Dundee

The Howff in Dundee is a historical burial ground dating back to 1564. Many of the tombstones are made of local limestone which is beginning to crumble and fade.

The space is now a pleasant place to sit and eat lunch for office workers in the center of Dundee, particularly on a sunny day.

History

What is now The Howff was formerly part of the Franciscan (Grey Friars or Greyfriars) Monastery that was destroyed in the Scottish Reformation of 1547-8.

Mary, Queen of Scots later gave the land to the burgh (town) of Dundee, for use as a burial ground.

The Incorporated Trades of Dundee used the land as a howff or meeting place.

The nine trades included Bakers, Bonnetmakers, Butchers (Fleshers), Dyers, Glovers (or Skinners), Hammermen and Weavers. Each of these nine trades had their own banners and symbols that can be seen on the tombs of their members in The Howff. The Hammermen included gold and silversmiths, locksmiths, pewterers, bucklemakers and gunsmiths.

Also buried here are members of the three United Trades of Masons, Slaters and Wrights.

Standard symbols of death and mortality recur on many of the tombs including bones, skulls, Father Time and the winged cherub for infant mortality.

James Chalmers (1782-1853), the inventor of the adhesive postage stamp lies buried in The Howff. The last person to be buried here was the politician George Duncan (1791-1878). Many Provosts of Dundee also lie in the cemetery among doctors, surgeons and writers.

The Howff is now a peaceful urban cemetery. — The Howff is now a peaceful urban cemetery

Goods From Japan delivered to your home or business. — Goods From Japan delivered to your home or business

Access & Hours

The Howff
Meadowside
Dundee DD1 1LN
www: dundeehowff.org.uk

Open 24 hours.

The nearest railway station to the cemetery is Dundee Station, around 10 minutes away on foot.

Located on South Union Street Dundee Station has trains to London King's Cross Station from Aberdeen via Edinburgh, Newcastle and York Station in York as well as more local ScotRail trains to Glasgow Queen Street in Glasgow via Perth and Stirling as well as connections south to Edinburgh Waverley Station in Edinburgh.

The following buses stop near Dundee Station, the #42, the #42A (Glenrothes), the #77, the #77A (Gauldry), the #99, #99A, the #99B, the #99C, #99D (to St Andrews), the #X7 (Perth), as well as the #X54 and #X61 services which serve Dundee city.

If you wish to stay in Dundee try the Sleeperz Hotel Dundee, with three stars and views of the V&A Dundee. Also recommended are the Malmaison Dundee and Holiday Inn Express Dundee.

In addition, out in Broughty Ferry try the Best Western Woodlands Hotel Dundee.

Dundee Attractions

The Dundee Science Centre, Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA), The McManus, Verdant Works and the V&A Dundee are other excellent museums in the city.

Dundee also has a connection with comics as the publishers D. C. Thomson & Co are based in the city. The company published such former classic comics as The Dandy and The Beano. In addition, a statue of Desperate Dan and other characters from the comics, such as Minnie the Minx and Dawg the Dog can be seen in Dundee city center, close to Caird Hall.