Remember St Ninian’s Church? The Old Aisle Cemetery stands on its former grounds. This cemetery in Kirkintilloch holds centuries of stories. It began as the churchyard for St Ninian’s founded around 1140.
St Ninian’s Church served as the parish church for both Kirkintilloch and Cumbernauld. However a new church called St Mary’s was built in Kirkintilloch in 1644. It is now the Auld Kirk Museum. Space was limited there. People kept burying their dead at the Old Aisle.
The pre-Reformation parish church was abandoned after 1659. This followed the division of Lenzie parish. It split into Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch.
Walk with me. We are stepping into a place of history. The Old Aisle Cemetery dates back to the eighteenth century. It is a category A listed building. This protects its historical importance.
Notice the watchtower. It dates from the early 18th century. Consider its purpose. It may have been built using stones from the old 12th-century church. The gate lodge appeared later. It was built in 1863. This was when the cemetery expanded.
Look around. The oldest part of the cemetery sits on a hilltop. It offers views towards the north of Glasgow. Pine trees stand tall here. They create a distinctive feature. Imagine the landscape centuries ago.
The entrance from Old Aisle Road leads to the original walled cemetery. It is near the watch tower. It is a neglected space. Many memorials are in poor condition. Rough grass and bushes grow wild. Tall pine trees add to the scene. Behind this older section lie newer areas. These are well-maintained.
The Old Aisle Cemetery is surprisingly large. Another entrance exists from A806 via McGavigans Rd, Woodilee Road. This entrance provides parking.
Many notable people rest here. Alexander Bain is buried in Old Aisle Cemetery. He invented and patented the electric clock. Beatrice Clugston also rests here. She was a social reformer and philanthropist. Archibald Couper was a chemist. John Ferguson was a politician. David Gray was a poet. Nicola Ann Raphael was a bullycide victim.
The Old Aisle Cemetery holds war graves. Thirty-eight Commonwealth service personnel are buried here. Seventeen from World War I and twenty-one from World War II. Their sacrifices are remembered.
Consider the memorials. They largely date from the 18th and 19th centuries. The older ones show their age. Many are broken, fallen, or tilting. The pine trees and rough grass obscure some monuments.
Auld Aisle Cemetery is more than a burial ground. It is a link to the past. It has recreational value. Pathways wind through the 19th-century sections. People come here to reflect. They find peace in this historic space.
Remember the layers of history here. From St Ninian’s Church to modern burials. The Old Aisle Cemetery tells a story of Kirkintilloch. It connects us to those who came before.