John Livingston’s Tomb

A skull with crossbones greets you. This is John Livingstone’s Tomb. It sits nestled within a 17th-century burial enclosure. John Livingstone wasn’t just any apothecary. He lived during a time of pestilence in Edinburgh. His profession brought him close to the sick. Health officials moved infected people outside the city walls. Sadly John himself succumbed to the Black Death in 1645 at the age of 53. This isolated burial plot is his final resting place. His wife Elizabeth Rig is also buried here. They purchased the Greenhill lands in 1636. The entrance features an edge-roll molding topped with a broken pediment. Initials IL and ER mark the stone along with the date 1645. A shield shows three cinquefoils. Livingstone’s tombstone is built into the enclosure’s west wall. A winged hourglass sits above the skull and crossbones. The motto Mors Patet Hora Latet is etched above. It means Death is sure the hour obscure. The inscription speaks of his upright life. It notes his passing amidst judgments. It details his age of 53 at death. The four corners are adorned with scrolls. Local legend links Livingstone to Chamberlain Road. It wrongly claims he was the town’s Chamberlain. The first Chamberlain Thomas Fisher was appointed much later in 1700. This charming enclosed courtyard is more than a tomb. It’s a testament to a life lived during a dark chapter of Edinburgh’s history. It’s a quiet place for reflection a reminder of mortality. Take a moment to appreciate the serene beauty. Consider the life and legacy of John Livingstone.