North Merchiston Cemetery, Ardmillan Terrace, Edinburgh

North Merchiston Cemetery is a Victorian burial ground on Ardmillan Terrace in the west of Edinburgh, a few kilometres from the Royal Mile. It is not a headline sight, but for anyone interested in the city's social history, football heritage or wartime remembrance it makes a quiet, rewarding stop off the usual tourist trail.

Why was it created?

The cemetery was founded when nearby Dalry Cemetery began to fill up. Its owner, the Edinburgh Cemetery Company, concluded that the area needed another graveyard. The new site was first meant to be called Dalry New Cemetery, but it ended up being known as North Merchiston Cemetery.

When did it open?

Sources disagree. Historic Environment Scotland and GENUKI give 1881, while Find a Grave and Heart of Midlothian FC point to 1874. The cemetery is therefore generally placed in the 1870s to 1880s.

What is there to see?

• Gates, walls and lodge. The entrance gates, boundary walls and the lodge (around 1881) form a Category C listed group in Scotland (reference LB26704, listed 9 February 1993).
• A marble medallion. The grounds hold a marble medallion portrait of James Galloway by the sculptor John S Rhind.
• Magdalene Asylum common grave. A shared grave is linked to the Magdalene Asylum, an institution once located on Ardmillan Terrace.

Football heritage

The cemetery matters to Heart of Midlothian supporters. Buried here are Tom Purdie, a founder member and the club's first captain, and Bobby Walker, who held the Scotland appearances record until 1931. The club features the site in its Maroon Mile heritage trail.

War graves

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission looks after identified casualties of both world wars here. Some of the First World War burials form a small plot in Section K, marked by a screen wall.

Practical notes

The cemetery covers about 3.74 hectares. It is closed to new burials but maintained, so you can walk through respectfully. Treat it as a place of remembrance rather than an attraction. According to the Gazetteer for Scotland, the nearby Athletic Arms pub, nicknamed "Diggers", was once a haunt of grave-diggers from the area's cemeteries.

Frequently asked questions

Is North Merchiston Cemetery listed? Yes, its gates, boundary walls and lodge are Category C listed.

Who is buried here? Among others, two Hearts figures, Tom Purdie and Bobby Walker, plus service personnel from both world wars.

Are new burials still taking place? No, the cemetery is closed to burials but still maintained.

Who is it for? Local history fans, football supporters and visitors looking for quiet, lesser-known corners of Edinburgh.