Grange Cemetery

Grange Cemetery, south of Beaufort Road (Grange Road), near the junction with Marchmont Road/Kilgraston Road, was designed by the architect David Bryce (1803-76). The Cemetery received its first interment, Dr Thomas Chalmers, in 1847, and now contains over six thousand burial plots.

This Cemetery is the largest of five cemeteries opened in 1843-1846 on the then edges of the city to provide burial space for the growing population. The original plans included a mortuary chapel, never built, and was planned for both ordinary burials and lodgement in vaults (a raised section running east-west in the centre of the cemetery) which were never fully used.

The Cemetery is laid out in regular blocks divided by gravel paths with a western extension added in 1924. It is bounded by high stone walls with two entrances on Beaufort Road. The main entrance at the lodge house (now privately owned) is at the north end of Lover’s Loan and the other near the traffic lights.

The cemetery contains the monuments to several well known Edinburgh residents and the area is made particularly pleasant and restful for visitors by the presence of a number of spectacular and interesting trees.

If you can’t make it along on Saturday 25th or Sunday 26th September for Doors Open Days (details below) please visit our website to learn more about the Cemetery and download one of our guides and take a few moments for a short virtual tour below from the Rev Karen Campbell.