The Wigtown Martyrs
Holy Rude cemetry Ladies' Rock, Star Pyramid and the Valley
Access from Castle Wynd or Castle Esplanade
Wander around the atmospheric Holy Rude graveyard and you will see headstones which are hundreds of years old. The earliest dates from 1579. Many show the trade symbols and tools of trade of the person who is buried there.
The rugged rock which rises South of the Valley is The Ladies' Rock. This was a favourite vantage point for the ladies of the court to watch the Royal Tournaments in the Valley and the Kings Park. From here, you can enjoy panoramic views across to the Trossachs and Ben Lomond.
The valley has been the place of execution of witches. In the valley cemetery you will see a Victorian monument which commemorates the Wigtown Martyrs, two women who were drowned in 1685 for refusing to renounce their protestant faith.
The castle sits at the Top of the Town. Just down the hill stands the Church of the Holy Rude, and in its graveyard stand gravestones dating from 1579. The Pyramid is dedicated to all those who suffered martyrdom in the cause of civil and religious liberty in Scotland. A local eccentric is said to be interned inside the pyramid, seated at a feasting table. The Star Pyramid wasbuilt by William Drummond in 1863.
William Drummond was a land surveyor and nurseryman whose immediate descendants were a well known family in Stirling. They were responsible for a wide range of activities both locally and nationally. These included the establishment of an agricultural museum in the 1830's, an extensive seed and nursery business, exploration in Africa and the Drummond Tract Enterprise, the foremost 19th century publisher of religious pamphlets.
Star Pyramid in the Church of the Holy Rude in Stirling, example of one of the sidesWilliam was the eldest son of the well-known Stirling family which included Peter Drummond and his nephew Henry. He was one of the instigators of the Valley Cemetery and his obsession with religion can be seen in the Martyrs' Monument and the Star Pyramid (also known as Salem Rock).
He commissioned the Star Pyramid from William Barclay in 1863 - note the white marble Bibles incorporated by Barclay round the base of the edifice and the names of religious tracts (published by his brother Peter's "Drummond Tract Enterprise"). William planted a Pleasure Garden round the Pyramid, complete with trees and plants. He also paid for five of the six statues seen in various parts of the graveyard and donated trees to be planted round the National Wallace Monument.
This area was laid out as a public pleasure ground by local nurseryman and evangelist, William Drummond. The Star Pyramid, with its texts and emblems, was nearing completion in April 1863, when a bible and the Confession of faith were sealed into a chamber within the structure. It recalls the principles of the Reformation and publicised the famous Drummond Tract Enterprises.
The pyramid is on a raised plinth of 4 steps and has a set of steps leading to it. Each of the faces are very similar. On one face is a circular marble plaque, the text of which is very worn and some of the lower part is readable.
Each of the sides has (from bottom to top):
- sunken relief text with a reference to verses from the Psalms:
- Union Banner, XLV CIII
- Rock of Ages, XCV
- Covenant Rest, CXXXII CXLV
- Thrown of Right, XCVI XCVII
- Marble bible
- Carved circular rosette
- Thistle
- Crown
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