More than 100 headstones at a historic church graveyard in Haddington are at risk of being laid flat after failing safety checks, according to East Lothian Council.
The council said 113 gravestones at St Mary’s Kirk were marked with warning signs following an inspection of 1,146 headstones in the graveyard. Work to address the failures is scheduled to begin in late autumn, with the signs intended to alert lair owners that repairs are needed.
If owners do not arrange repairs, the council said it has a responsibility to make memorials safe for visitors, staff, and contractors. That safety work can include laying a memorial flat, digging it into the ground, or propping it against its base. The council said each failed stone will be considered on its own merits, and none will be removed.
St Mary’s Kirk has roots in the town dating to the 12th century, and it was damaged during the Siege of Haddington in the mid-1500s. The site is also tied to Scottish Reformation leader John Knox, and the church underwent a full restoration in the 1970s. Today, it continues to serve the community and has hosted events such as the Lammermuir Festival.
For memorial masons and stone professionals, the council’s message is clear: burial authorities are carrying out regular scheduled inspections under Scottish Government rules, and repairs should be handled by fully qualified memorial masons with appropriate public liability insurance. The council also noted that not all stone masons are qualified to work on memorials. Contractors asked to price this work should confirm who has authority to instruct repairs, plan for safe temporary stability measures when needed, and document existing conditions before resetting or stabilizing historic stone.
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