Graveyard’s devilish and witchy history

Spring is definitely in the air this year and with the various Covid restrictions being lifted it feels like time to get out into the sun and perhaps explore something new … or something very old?

One of the things I do in my spare time is chair the Friends of Logie Old Graveyard Group (all the hard work was done years ago by the wonderful Joe and Eleanor Young!). This is without doubt one of the most amazing wee overlooked gems in Stirling and the only place in Scotland you can combine the Devil, witches, Vikings, Picts and a saint.

Logie is likely to be a corruption of“locus”, Latin for“place”as in holy place. We think it was dedicated to St Serf and founded during the Pictish takeover of Stirling around 700 AD when they chased the Northumbrians out and the Forth became the frontier.

The church remained an important place into the new millennium (1000 AD) and contains at least four Viking age hogbacks, the highest concentration in the Central Belt outside Govan. Then there are a series of incredible 17th and 18th century gravestones, a Victorian explorer responsible for moving Cleopatra’s Needle to

London and much, much, more.

The group is looking for new volunteers to help with the maintenance (a little light gardening two or three times a year) and we’re holding a work morning on April 2 from 10am-noon and I’ll also be giving a wee tour at 10am which is open to all. So why not try something new or just come along for a wee nosey!

But what about the Devil and the witches I hear you cry? Well, you’ll just have to come along on the tour!