From the statue of 'Greyfriars Bobby' at the junction of Candlemaker Row and George IV Bridge, cross the road, take the cobbled lane at the side of 'Bobby's Bar' and leave the 21st century behind.

In 1447 monks of the Franciscan Order came to Edinburgh and established a monastery here. They were medical missionaries working with the poor and remained until they were forced to flee to Europe at the time of the Reformation.

The garden of the Greyfriars was given to the town by Mary Queen of Scots in 1562 as an overflow cemetery to relieve the overcrowding in the churchyard of St Giles.

Here we see the houses of Candlemaker Row backing onto 17th century mural monuments.

Images from around the Kirkyard.

Above, leaning against the buildings of Candlemaker Row, is the tomb of Sir Robert Dennistoun of Mountjoy, part of the inscription reads "... for 30 years the keeper of Scottish Privileges in Holland. He founded this tomb in 1626".

The cracked headstone in the foreground marks the grave of James Dennistoun of Dennistoun Esq. (1803-55) :

Detail from the tomb of Sir Robert Dennistoun of Mountjoy.