The view from the top of the cemetery looking towards Holyrood Palace and Arthur's Seat.

Graverobbing reached a peak in Edinburgh during the 1820's when the Medical Authorities made it compulsory to pass a course in practical anatomy in order to obtain a medical degree. The watchtower in the top righthand corner would have been built to house the guard, but according to Alasdair McEwan writing in Ruins and Remains : Edinburgh's Neglected Heritage

"These [the watchtowers] did not prove to have a great deterrent effect on the graverobbers; either through fear, ineptitude, drunkness or bribery (all of which were often the case) on the part of the guards employed to man them, the activities of the graverobbers continued unabated, albeit with more caution".

The Warburton Act of 1832 ensured an ample supply of corpses for the anatomists and an end to the activities of the graverobbers.

The monument to Andrew Skene (1784-1835) is a fine piece of relief sculpture by Patric Park RSA depicting 'Misfortune soothed by Wisdom', the head at the top is that of the deceased. The inscription reads :

To the memory of Andrew Skene, son of Dr. George Skene, Physician in Aberdeen, born 28th February 1784. Entered the Faculty of Advocates 14th June 1806, Solicitor-General for Scotland, 3 November 1834. Died 2nd November 1835. A mark of Affection and Gratitude.

Burial place of Andrew Fyfe, Surgeon, dated 1817.

The grave of Andreas Gregorowicz, Polish lawyer, surgeon and freedom-fighter who died in 1838 aged 31. The Edinburgh Graveyard Guide goes on to say, "Having fought as a student against the Russians he escaped to Edinburgh where he began training as a surgeon. Within a year he was dead from plague contracted while attending the poor of the city.".