I first discovered Dornoch Kirkyard in 2016 on my way to Orkney. The town itself is quite historic, having been a royal burgh. Being a royal burgh, it held a market in what was then the town centre, next to where the Cathedral stands. Although the current kirkyard is walled, this was not always the case. Indeed, the wall was added in 1814.
Previous to that, the kirkyard was an open space, with a road running through it. And the market stalls would be set up once a week. The evening before the markets would see the kirkyard abuzz with merchants getting their stalls ready for the two days of transactions.
One of the rather unusual elements in the kirkyard, which is a remnant of the time when markets were held here, is the long, moss covered table slab known as a Plaiden Ell.
An Ell is a measurement used for measuring cloth. It measures 37 inches, or just over a yard.
The cloth would be laid out on the ell much the same way current fabric stores lay the cloth out on a table which has a yardstick nailed to it. People would then purchase as many ells as required for their family's clothing.
Of note as well, is that because the wall is a relatively recent addition to the kirkyard, the cemetery of old extends well beyond it, running under the streets on both sides of the Cathedral.
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