33. Hugh Cogan Monument Designed by JT Rochead 1855
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Dean of Guild at the Merchants House 1842 – 1844 Cogan is remembered for founding the first Glasgow Building Society and as an elder of the Free Church.
He died on 28 August 1855 at the age of 63. A rather plain and gloomy monument, almost Egyptian in proportion.
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34. Lockhart Monument Designed by J.Wallace 1842
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Robert and Thomas Lockhart were wealthy clothiers in Glasgow. This monument is another Gothic fantasy monument complete with obligatory cherubs, finials and scrolls. This piece was sculpted by J.Mossman and designed by Mrs Robert Lockhart’s brother, the London based architect J.Wallace. |
35. Façade to the Jewish Enclosure Designed by J.Bryce 1836
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Built in 1836 and designed by J.Bryce based on Absalom’s Pillar in the King’s Dale, Jerusalem. The symbols at the top of the pillar read ‘Mi Kamoka Baalim Jehovah’ - ‘Who among the mighty is like unto you Jehovah?’ The pillar also features extracts from the ‘Hebrew Melodies’ by Lord Byron. The ground was purchased from the Merchants’ House for 100 guineas (£105) financed by general subscription in the synagogue. Joseph Levi - a 62 year old jeweller who had died of dysentery - was the first burial on September 12th 1832. Due to the Jewish custom of burying bodies one per grave the available space was quickly used up. The wash house, for cleaning bodies, was removed and this space gradually used too. By 1851 there was no more room for burials in this section. |
How Joseph Levi came to be the first person to be buried in the Necropolis may be deduced by it's first annual report: "The Chief of the Synagogue sent, offering to purchase possession of a burial-place before any arrangements were completed or prices fixed, stating frankly that they had a specific sum raised and laid aside for the purpose, and their desire to have such accommodation as could be given for it. There was a corner with a few trees in the end of the park next the burn, where freestone had been wrought, and which seemed peculiarly adapted for the purpose, and least likely to interfere with any future operations. The request was accordingly complied with, although the price, when calculated, according to what was afterwards obtained from others, has proved a trifle under the average. The payment of tribute upon internments was considered inconsistent with their religious ideas; and their mode of internment being peculiar, and such as the Committee would certainly wish to see generally introduced, of preserving the spot where any remains have ever being deposited from being again used, the fees which were not then fixed were also agreed to be given up in their case."
The tour of the Glasgow Necropolis is now complete and as indicated one should now follow the map back across the Bridge of Sighs to finish at the St Mungo’s Museum of Religious Life and Art in the Cathedral precincts where refreshments and toilets are available.
< Monuments 29-32
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